Little Rock Nine members being escorted by troops Jefferson Thomas , one of the members of the Little Rock Nine , a group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957, has died at the age of 67. His death was confirmed by fellow Little Rock Nine member's Carlotta Walls LaNier and Minnijean Brown . The cause of death was announced as pancreatic cancer . After leaving high school Thomas joined the U.S Army and served in Vietnam as a staff sergeant. When he returned to the United States he worked in the family business and later for the Department of Defense . Little Rock Nine member Melba Beals commented on Thomas's death. She said "No matter what we were talking about or no matter how awful the day had been, he could always make a funny joke about it," she said, recalling their days at Central. "We are in deep pain thinking of him. We are all a family in a way. This is a great loss."
Little Rock Nine members being escorted by troops , one of the members of the , a group of students who were enrolled in in 1957, has died at the age of 67. His death was confirmed by fellow Little Rock Nine member's and . The cause of death was announced as . After leaving high school Thomas joined the and served in Vietnam as a staff sergeant. When he returned to the United States he worked in the family business and later for the . Little Rock Nine member commented on Thomas's death. She said "No matter what we were talking about or no matter how awful the day had been, he could always make a funny joke about it," she said, recalling their days at Central. "We are in deep pain thinking of him. We are all a family in a way. This is a great loss."
D
Jefferson Thomas
D
Little Rock Nine
D
African-American
D
Little Rock Central High School
R
Carlotta Walls LaNier and Minnijean Brown
and
D
pancreatic cancer
D
U.S Army
D
Department of Defense
D
Melba Beals