UDC – In the spotlight William T. Thomas
Welcome to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) law school library – the David A. Clarke School of Law. Since 2000, William T. Thomas, the law library technician, has been the first person to greet visitors at the Circulations Desk. For his dedication to service, Thomas is the 2022 recipient of the UDC Lifetime Achievement Award for “demonstrating exceptional loyalty and extraordinary commitment, dedication, and services to advance the university and its goal and objectives.” This award is named after the distinguished educator and former District of Columbia Teachers College President Paul Philips Cooke.
UDC Law School is unique as the only public law school in D.C. and one of only six HBCU law schools across the United States. For 50 years, it has provided vital legal services for the D.C. community and transformational legal training for students. “The thing about working in the UDC law school library at the circulation desk is to see the ‘fruit of my labor’ when I see the progress from incoming first-year students when they graduate,” Thomas said.
Back in 2000, Thomas came to UDC Van Ness Campus to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in the Early Childhood Education program in the College of Arts and Sciences. While pursuing his degree, Thomas got a work-study job in the UDC’s law library, which turned into a permanent position. Thomas wears many hats in this role and goes above and beyond the call of duty, often working days and evenings.
As a circulation technician, he manages the ALMA/Primo database and popular case law databases, such as LexisNexis. As a supervisor for student workers, he said, “I get a lot of enjoyment from helping students master the research skills needed to become successful with their studies.”
Helping young people find their way in life is rooted in his rough upbringing in and around the Anacostia neighborhood. When he turned 18, the oldest of nine children, Thomas joined the United States Army and was shipped to Vietnam. His single mother struggled to raise the family. “The military was the most viable place for me to go make some money to send home to my mother to take care of my brothers and sisters,” Thomas said.
During his Vietnam service, he lost many friends in combat and injured his legs. He now pours that conflict into helping your people make a difference. Thomas received. Combat Infantry awards for his injury, recognizing his bravery and service to the country.
In his free time, Thomas sails along the Potomac River in his motor yacht “A Promise In Progress.” Years ago, Thomas became a member of Washington DC’s only historically Black yachting club, the Seafarers, located along the docking area of the Anacostia Community Boathouse. Since then, he has set exploratory seafaring trips along the Anacostia River, with stops by the National Harbor and other destinations along the Chesapeake Bay and the East Coast shoreline. Sailing gives Thomas a strong sense of peace of mind, which helps him to stay focused and enjoy life. It also allows him to reflect on his life’s journey and ways to serve law school students better.
