KWTX salutes Lee Wilder Thomas of Mexia

MEXIA, Texas (KWTX) — During Black History Month, recognizable figures often dominate the conversation. Let’s examine a Central Texas figure not often discussed, but just as remarkable.

From church to commerce to community, Lee Wilder Thomas built a legacy that spans more than a century.

The story begins more than 150 years ago in rural Limestone County. Lee Wilder Thomas was reportedly born to a former slave, father Boss Thomas, some eight years after emancipation. Times were hard for Black families, but with faith and fortune he built a community that’s still thriving today.

Early life and calling

Thomas was born in 1873, reportedly an only child, during a time when racial tensions ran high. According to state documents, violence got so bad a couple of years earlier that martial law was instituted in Mexia.

Leaning on his faith, L-W, as locals referred to him, was called to Christ while attending the Sardis Primitive Baptist Church.

According to his family, he later graduated from Wiley College in Marshall, was married and had 13 children.

His great-granddaughter Schuylar Carter, who grew up in a home he built in Oklahoma, has been researching the family history for decades.

“He was just a driven person,” Carter said.

Oil wealth and forced exodus

L-W began buying land, some say more than 160 acres. He was fortunate to be among other property owners to strike oil.

In the 1920s, Mexia became a popular boom town. Oil prospectors flocked to the area to strike it rich.

Thomas along with other family members had roughly 10 oil wells on the property, producing millions of barrels of oil.

A Black family of means during those times was often met with violence or threats of violence. As legend has it, L-W and his millions were run out of town.

“So they didn’t like the fact that the older boys were driving around in cars and basically flaunting the money. And so from there, I think he saw the opportunity and heard of the opportunity in Oklahoma and the wide open spaces,” Carter said.

Building Summit, Oklahoma

It was a daring escape to a new life, especially since an entire part of Tulsa, the Greenwood District an hour away booming with African American businesses, was destroyed because of racial hate. Today we know this as the Black Wall Street Massacre, or the Tulsa Race Riots.

But he had a plan, using proceeds from the liquid gold he pumped from deep within the earth to build a solid community.

It’s said, he bought about 600 acres in Summit, Muskogee County, Oklahoma. He built a nice, big home for he and his family.

He divided some of the site into lots and sold them to African Americans with preference given to those from the Lone Star State.

“He saved that opportunity when he saw what could really be done. And how prolific that moment was for not only his family, but black people in general,” Carter said.

“He was very adamant about providing opportunities for black folks to thrive. Not only in Texas, but you know, migrating up to Oklahoma,” she said.

Business partnerships and legacy

In the early 1930s, he partnered with Jake Simmons Jr., another wealthy African American oil broker, and built Simmons Royalty Co., an oil and mineral rights royalty company.

“He was just a driven person to want to build, like he was a community builder through and through, and I feel like he was, you know, an urban planner before really urban planning really blew up,” Carter said.

She recognized his efforts and the hard work it must have taken, being a planner herself.

Carter mentioned she works as a planner for the City of Muskogee, like great-grandfather, like great-granddaughter.

Reverend Thomas built the St. Thomas Primitive Baptist Church in 1922 in Summit. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

He also donated large amounts of money to the Primitive Baptist Church to start a small Black college, St. Paul Normal and Industrial College, in his hometown of Mexia. It too has a historical marker right off Highway 84.

“I mean, he cared for his community, both where he came from and where he built and it, and he also cared about the legacy,” Carter said.

After living a life many could only dream of, L-W died in April of 1953.

African American businessman, preacher and community builder Lee Wilder Thomas represents the many reasons to salute Black History Month.