Celebrate Black History: Trustee Dermond Thomas

Last March, Dermond Edwin Thomas, 35, was the first African American ever to be elected a Village Trustee with the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream in its 87 year history.  

 

Originally from Gary, Indiana, Mr. Thomas was raised by a young, single mother who did everything she could to give him everything he needed while she continued her college education.  While in Kindergarten, Thomas was enrolled in the Gifted and Talented Program at his school which gave him a sound education.  After attending an 8th grade information session sponsored by A Better Chance, he went home to tell his mother that he wanted to go to boarding school to get a solid education.  With the support of his family, community and church, he left for Ojai, California where was elected School Chairman and graduated from The Thacher School four years later.

He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Amherst College in 1998 serving in many leadership positions including Co-Class President, and then obtained his Juris Doctor with honors from Columbia Law School in 2001.  He is a 2nd Degree Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do and played baseball as a young child until he began college.

April 2011 Swearing In Ceremony @ Village Hall

Currently he is a practicing attorney and is Director, Corporate Counsel at MSC Industrial Direct in Melville, NY.  He was appointed by Governor Cuomo to sit on the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) Board last Spring under the recommendation of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. 

He is a family man and has been married for over 8 years to his amazing wife, Kimberly (that's me). He and his wife have two young children, Olivia and Cole.




Past/Upcoming African American History Makers

Kymberley Clemons-Jones - First African American to pastor Valley Stream Presbyterian Church
Dermond Thomas - First African American Village Trustee, Inc. Village of Valley Stream

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