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by pltm
(PLTM) - Founder of Clarence Thomas Ltd. (CTL) has passed, according to an official release.
Mr. Thomas is described as a pioneer in the Virgin Islands community and was a master plumber having acquired his welding and plumbing skills from a two-year training programme in Puerto Rico, created by the United States Government.
After his sojourn in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he became a licensed plumber, he returned home as the British Virgin Islands first licensed plumbing contractor. In 1965 he formed CTL, a plumbing company that significantly contributed to the construction of the territory’s hospital and many large hotels.
Recognizing the need for plumbing supplies in the territory, he created a plumbing supply store under a cherry tree in his yard in his beloved community of Sea Cow’s Bay.
The Clarence Thomas Plumbing Supplies store expanded in stages over a period of fifty years to become the Virgin Islands largest building supplies, housewares, and maintenance store; now called CTL Home Center Limited with locations at Fish Bay, Tortola and Valley, Virgin Gorda.
Mr. Thomas exemplified service above self as one of the first members of the Rotary Club of Tortola and a Paul Harris Fellow Awardee.
He also received numerous other awards for his pioneering and entrepreneurial Virgin Islands spirit. Clarence Thomas was a kind and generous man who passed on his plumbing skills to many young men in the Virgin Islands community who became full-fledged plumbing contractors in their own right.
He contributed generously to the country’s education, healthcare, and infrastructure and gave his continuous support to many charities.
"His legacy lives on through CTL Home Center Limited and his beloved wife Maybel and children Jacqueline, Michael, David and Neil. May his soul rest in peace," a release from CTL stated.
Mr. Thomas is survived by his immediate family, his wife Maybel Frett-Thomas, his daughter Jacqueline, sons Michael, David and Neil Thomas and many other relatives.
Persons are asked to submit photos and tributes via email to David Thomas dthomas@ctlbvi.com
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