Erwin K Thomas’s Biography
Born on June 3, 1943 as the eldest of eleven
children Erwin K Thomas was raised in Georgetown, Guyana. He always had an interest in education,
international affairs, and broadcasting. His life therefore saw him become a
high school teacher at St. Cyril’s Anglican School after graduating from the
Guyana Teachers Training College (GTTC), Georgetown in 1964. Motivated to
fulfill his dreams he was awarded a foreign student scholarship at the
Department of Speech of the University of Oregon, Eugene, where he earned in
1970 a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting. While at Oregon he worked on U of O’s
radio station KWAX-FM, and with its experimental TV station PL3.
Erwin fell in love and married his wife Mary Louise
Barta of Scappoose, OR. On June 13, 1970 theirs was an interracial marriage.
And despite some dire predictions that such a union might not necessarily
prevail it has stood the test of time. His wife Mary has been a force in their
physical, mental and psychological development. Together they have overcome
many obstacles that would have derailed their relationship, and are parents of
a loving son Matthew.
In 1970 Erwin was awarded an internship to Brooklyn
College of the City University of New York (CUNY), and worked at BCTV while
pursuing his master’s degree. During
this time TV shows on which he worked in different crew positions were aired on
WNYC-TV. He was also as a desk assistant
at CBS radio network in New York City. After graduation in 1972, Erwin and Mary
moved to Oswego, NY, where he was employed in the Department of Mass
Communications of the State University of New York at Oswego
(SUNY-Oswego)). While there he taught
courses in broadcasting and produced shows at Oswego State’s TV station. These TV shows with famous national
personalities were aired in local markets in up-state New York.
From 1974 to 1978 Erwin and Mary lived in Columbia,
MO, where he pursued his doctoral studies at the University of Missouri. He was
awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship (1975-1978), and a Gannett Foundation
Scholarship (1975-1976). Erwin spent
four years in the School of Journalism specializing in International
Communications and Broadcasting. During
this time he assisted students in the film lab, was a news cameraman at
KOMU-TV, and news writer at KBIA-FM, and the Columbia Missourian in Columbia,
MO. And because he had a special
interest in the Caribbean region, Erwin travelled to Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana,
and Trinidad & Tobago to conduct research for his dissertation on The
Beginnings of Broadcasting in the West Indies, 1920-1949. While in the
Caribbean he interviewed professors at the University of the West Indies (UWI)
School of Mass Communications Program, radio & TV station managers,
newspaper editors, informational officers, local officials, and politicians
including heads of states.
In 1978 on completion of his doctorate Erwin was
employed as an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee,
where he spent one year teaching mass communications courses. But because of an
illness of depression he resigned this position, and when he was well again he
accepted an appointment at Norfolk State University, VA. In 1980 at this HBCU he
joined the Department of Mass Communications & Journalism, where he taught
a wide range of mass communications courses, was Acting Chair, and Director of
WNSB-FM. In 1981 and 1988 he was a visiting professor at the University of
Guyana, Georgetown, in the Mass Communications Program. While at Norfolk State
Erwin was promoted from an Assistant to Associate, and later became a full
Professor. He is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and
Mass Communication (AEJMC) Religious Interest Group and Minorities Division,
PEN America, Virginia Writers Club (VWC), and Hampton Roads Writers (HRW).
Erwin has published three books in mass
communications. Two he edited with
Brown H Carpenter of the Virginian-Pilot of scholars in journalism and mass
communications as contributing authors. In retirement he continues as an
Interfaith Writer & Educator publishing a number of devotional works, an
autobiography, and a novel. His love of life is expressed in his writings, and
faith as a religious naturalist in the Religious Naturalist Association (RNA).
For many years he has been living with a pacemaker, suffering with diabetes,
and chronic renal failure, but eats healthy and exercises regularly.
Erwin is a loving and devoted father to his son
Matthew, a friend to many others, and an inspiration to those who have known him.
He has been a member of the Church of Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach, VA, where
he was on the Vestry Council, Eucharistic minister, lay reader, and Facebook
producer. His blogs about world religions and beliefs are on Facebook and
Twitter. He wishes to be remembered as one who lived according to religious
principles with fair play, social responsibility, and always endeavoring to do
what’s true, just, and right. That’s why
as he lives he is exploring a wide range of religious faiths looking for
answers to life’s most compelling questions. But he is rather disappointed when
he discovered to what extent the major religions of the world were greatly
influenced by politics. But he has come
to embrace compassion and mindfulness as endearing qualities of his life.
Email: erwinkthomas28@gmail.com
Website: https://www.amazon.com/author/erwinthomas
