Romaine B. Thomas Recognition Resolution of 2026

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_____________________________ _____________________________ 1 Chairman Phil Mendelson Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 2 3 4 _____________________________ _____________________________ 5 Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. 6 7 8 _____________________________ _____________________________ 9 Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Anita Bonds 10 11 12 _____________________________ 13 Councilmember Zachary Parker 14 15 A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 16 17 _________________________ 18 19 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 20 21 _________________________ 22 23 24 To honor and celebrate the life, legacy, and extraordinary public service of Mrs. Romaine B. 25 Thomas, a distinguished educator, civic leader, and lifelong Washingtonian whose 26 contributions strengthened the fabric of the District of Columbia, particularly the Ward 5 27 community. 28 29 WHEREAS, Romaine B. Thomas (June 5, 1929 – April 27, 2026) was a proud second-30 generation Washingtonian born in historic Ivy City, a community whose history, culture, and 31 resilience shaped her life’s work and values; 32 WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas received her early education in the District of Columbia 33 Public Schools, attending Crummell Elementary School, Brown Junior High School, and 34 Cardozo High School, later earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Miners Teachers 35 College (now the University of the District of Columbia) and her Master of Arts degree from The 36 George Washington University; 37

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WHEREAS, she further pursued advanced studies at Vanderbilt University and in 38 London, England, where she participated in a pioneering program on open-space education; 39 WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas began her professional career at Crummell Elementary 40 School—the same school she attended as a child—and went on to serve more than twenty-five 41 years as Principal of John Henry Ketchum Elementary School, where she was selected as one of 42 only fifty-four principals nationwide to receive the National Distinguished Principal Award from 43 the U.S. Secretary of Education; 44 WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas demonstrated an enduring commitment to community service, 45 senior advocacy, youth empowerment, and historic preservation, focusing on “what really 46 matters in seniors’ lives—community, safety, financial security, aging in place, and supporting 47 independent living”; 48 WHEREAS, her civic leadership was extensive and influential, including service as: 49 • President, Woodridge Civic Association 50 • Second Vice President, DC Federation of Civic Associations 51 • DC Democratic Convention Chairwoman 52 • Delegate, 2012 Democratic National Convention 53 • President, Executive Council of AARP DC 54 • Chairperson, DC Commission on Aging 55 • Member, Friends of Ivy City Task Force 56 • Member, DC Historic Preservation Board 57 • Board Member, DC Historic Preservation Board 58 • Member, Bethesda Baptist Church 59 • Member, Michigan Park Christian Church 60

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• Life Member, Girl Friends, Inc. 61 • Member, The Paragons Club 62 • Member, Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society; 63 WHEREAS, her service and impact were recognized through numerous honors, including 64 the Romaine B. Thomas Campus Dedication at Rocketship Public Charter School (Ward 5), 65 National Mother of the Year, the AARP Andrus Award, the Thurgood Marshall Phenomenal 66 Community Service Award, the Seabury Community Service Award, and her appointment to the 67 Age-Friendly DC Task Force; 68 WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas was a devoted wife to the late Councilmember Harry L. 69 Thomas Sr., a loving mother to Debra Truhart (Spillman K. Truhart Jr.) and former 70 Councilmember Harry L. Thomas Jr. (Diane Romo Thomas); 71 WHEREAS, she was the grandmother of eight grandchildren — Anthony Gause, 72 Spillman K. Truhart Jr., Danae L. Truhart, Kendrick Thomas, Stephan K. Truhart (Abigail 73 Truhart), Harry L. Thomas III, Raye L. Thomas, and Kai L. Thomas — and the great-74 grandmother of six great-grandchildren; 75 WHEREAS, she also leaves a loving extended family including her sister-in-law Joyce 76 Bell, her nieces Joy Lynn Bell and Lynette Bell Kirk, and her nephew Anthony Eldrey Bell, 77 along with a host of additional relatives and loved ones; and 78 WHEREAS, her life’s work embodied excellence, service, dignity, and an unwavering 79 commitment to the people of the District of Columbia. 80 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 81 resolution may be cited as the “Romaine B. Thomas Recognition Resolution of 2026”. 82

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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors the life and legacy of Mrs. 83 Romaine B. Thomas, expresses its profound gratitude for her decades of service to the District, 84 and extends heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and the Ward 5 community she so 85 deeply loved. 86 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 87