Richard Van Thomas was born in Superior, Wyoming, October 11, 1932. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming in 1951 and a law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1956. After private practice of law in Cheyenne, he was appointed U.S. Attorney for Wyoming in 1969. On December 30, 1974, he became part of the Wyoming Supreme Court and served as chief justice from 1985-1986. He retired from the court in 1998 after almost a quarter century on the bench.

Thomas passed away in 2010.

Additional Resources

• Richard V. Thomas obituary, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, 9/12/2010