• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Having Fun!We Are Presidential!We Are Generous!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Norman Thomas

By MarionMade! on June 15, 2018

Minister. Socialist. Pacifist. And, six-time presidential candidate. Norman Thomas may easily be the most notable, unheard of man from Marion, Ohio.  Born in 1884, Norman Thomas lived in Marion for the first 18 years of his life–working as a paper carrier for The  Marion Star and graduating from Marion High School.

After high school, Thomas’ family moved to Pennsylvania, following his father’s career in ministry. Thomas graduated from Princeton University and Union Theological Seminary and became an ordained Presbyterian minister. Union had been, at that time, a center of the Social Gospel movement and liberal politics and, as a minister, Thomas preached against American participation in World War I.

It was Thomas’ position as a conscientious objector which drew him to the Socialist Party. He became the editor of The World Tomorrow magazine, helping it become the leading voice of liberal Christian social activism of its day. Later, he served as associate editor of The Nation magazine and was a co-founder of theNational Civil Liberties Bureau, the precursor of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Thomas publicly opposed the United States’ involvement in World War I and II. He was one of the few public figures to oppose President Roosevelt’s internment of Japanese Americans following the attack. Thomas was a tireless advocate of pacifism, civil rights, socialism, anti-communism, and civil liberties. He wrote 20 books and delivered hundreds of lectures across the country during his career.

He ran for President of the United States on the Socialist Party ticket six consecutive times between 1928 and 1948. Many of the ideas Thomas suggested were later adopted by both major political parties.

Ever the activist, at his 80th birthday gala in 1964, Thomas called for a cease-fire in Vietnam.  Just before his death in 1968, he was the first guest to appear on prominent conservative journalist William F. Buckley, Jr.’s new television show, Firing Line.

He has been remembered and honored locally with The Norman Thomas Memorial Lecture Series at The Ohio State University at Marion, held annually since 1972.

Journalism and activism continue to run in the family. He is the grandfather of Newsweek columnist Evan Thomas and the great grandfather of writer Louisa Thomas, whose book, Conscience, focuses on her pacifist great grandfather, Norman Thomas, and the moral conflicts her family endured.

#MarionMade #WeAreActivists

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • George Lawrence

    THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE.  . With Lawrence Orchard’s first apple trees planted by his Great Uncle Dale in 1923, George Lawrence continues to advance the family business almost a century later. After graduating from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Horticulture in 1980, George partnered […]Read More »
  • George Alber

    He lived in Marion, believed in Marion, and when he died on Thanksgiving Day in 1997, forever left his mark on our community and its people. George Alber was–and is–MarionMade! thanks to his legacy gift of a $32 million trust, administered through the Columbus Foundation. . Each year, thousands of Marion County residents feel the […]Read More »
  • Active Corgi Among Fastest in the Nation

    Nancy Carey’s adopted 7-month-old puppy was way more active than her six past Corgis. “Lily got into everything and was so fast I couldn’t catch her,” Carey said. “She is smart, agile and athletic with a huge herding instinct.” After many stolen socks and shredded paper towel rolls, a dog trainer suggested Carey take Lily […]Read More »
  • Local Referral Group Sees ROI

    Shopping local and supporting area businesses is the sole focus of one community group. For nearly 20 years, the Marion Business Builders Chapter of Business Networking International (BNI) has worked to support others and refer customers to local members they know, like, and trust. Investing time in weekly meetings has paid off huge dividends for […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image