War, was to show, to countries concerned about American racism, the progress the United States had made with respect to civil rights. It achieved this goal at least in part as the film received wide acclaim (including an Academy Award) and was distributed to 97 countries. Thomas resided in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Mary. He served as a volunteer mentor in the Village to Child Program co-sponsored by Ohio Dominican University, where he received his Honorary Degree, "Doctor of Humane Letters", on May 13, 2001, for his lifelong efforts in human rights and equality advancement. Thomas was a frequent speaker at numerous high schools, colleges and universities throughout the country. He was the recipient of numerous awards from local and federal governmental agencies which include the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Little Rock Nine by President Bill Clinton in 1999. Also, in 1999, he and the other members of the Little Rock Nine received the NAACP's prestigious Spingarn Award "for their bravery and heroism throughout Central High's first year of integration". In August 2005, the State of Arkansas honored the Little Rock Nine with statues of their likeness on the Capitol grounds. After more than 27 years as a civil servant, Thomas retired on September 30, 2004, from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Columbus, Ohio. In his later years, he served on the board of directors for the City of Refuge Learning Academy at the First Church of God. Thomas died from pancreatic cancer in Columbus, Ohio, two weeks before his 68th birthday. He was the first and, as of 2022, the only member of the Little Rock Nine to have died. After a funeral in Columbus, he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Media portrayals In 1993, actor Tico Wells portrayed Thomas in the Disney Channel movie The Ernest Green Story. See also Nine from Little Rock Jefferson Thomas of the Little Rock Nine References External links . 1942 births 2010 deaths Little Rock Nine Wayne State University alumni Deaths from pancreatic cancer Deaths from cancer in Ohio Activists from Little Rock, Arkansas Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Los Angeles State College alumni Spingarn Medal winners