Mike Thomas, a resident at The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence in Collegedale, Tennessee, has lived a fascinating life running a business, working on cars, and participating in weight lifting competitions.
Childhood, College and Marriage
Mike was born on March 5, 1944, in Madisonville, Kentucky, to Dempsey and Mabel Thomas.
“I had good parents,” Mike remembered. “My dad was smart. He worked for Union Carbide, and we traveled a lot. Every time Dad got transferred, we moved to a different place.”
Mike and his two sisters and younger brother lived in Seattle, Pennsylvania, and Atlanta while growing up. When it came to college, however, Mike returned to Kentucky to attend Western Kentucky University, where he earned a degree in business.
One day, Mike was at a dance when he saw a beautiful woman named Carolyn. “I told her the first time I met her that I was going to marry her,” Mike shared. “She laughed.”
The laughter wasn’t to blow Mike off, however. The attraction was mutual. The couple dated, and in 1967, they eloped. Mike brought Carolyn to the church in a two-seater car, then had to leave her there, drive to get the minister, bring him to the church, and then drop him back off at home after the ceremony. Finally, he could drive his new bride off.
“I was afraid her mom would be mad, but she was very happy,” Mike said. “Of course, they liked me. I was a good guy.”
That was just the start of their 54 years of marriage. “I had a good wife,” Mike said.
Kids, Career and Hobbies
Mike’s family expanded. He and Carolyn welcomed their first son, Chris, in 1968, and their second, Patrick, in 1973.
Mike had his own business, Thomas Printing Company, which sold printing and marketing products. These started with rubber stamps and grew to include business cards, storefronts, blueprints, signs, engravings and more. He ran Thomas Printing for 30 years and served many people in the greater Bowling Green, Kentucky, area. He also owned rental properties. “I made honest money,” he said.
One of Mike’s favorite hobbies was buying old cars and fixing them up. He enjoyed it so much that he eventually built his own 10-car garage at his home, complete with an oil pit! Over the years, his cars included a red 1959 Corvette, a Packard, several Studebakers and more.
His other major hobby was weight lifting. Mike had played football in high school as a guard, and power lifting came naturally to him.
“You wouldn’t believe how much I could lift,” he said. “Nobody wanted to mess with me.” Even today, his grandchildren (there are four of them) call him “Big Dad.”
Mike also got his son Patrick involved in the sport, and they both beat the state record in their age categories for the deadlift.
Retirement and Coming to Morning Pointe
After retirement in 1999, Mike remained involved in his community, especially through the Lions Club. He was a Kentucky Colonel with the organization.
Sadly, Carolyn passed away a few years ago. Mike came to The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence in Collegedale in December 2023. His granddaughter, Sarah Freed, had volunteered at the community when she was younger, and the family had heard good things about the staff.
When asked what he likes about living at The Lantern, Mike said he enjoys the food and the people. He has made friends and enjoys musical programs and sitting outside on the back porch.
He also enjoys visits from his family members. When Morning Pointe held a Senior Prom this spring, he especially enjoyed attending that and getting to dance with Sarah and meet her new husband for the first time.
When we asked Mike what he is most proud of in his life, he shared, “My kids. My kids are good people. That’s what it’s all about.”
Mike, thank you for your gentle example and for being part of our Morning Pointe Family!
