Clarence Thomas is a notable figure who became the second African-American to serve as Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. after Thurgood Marshall’s resignation. Interestingly, Thomas had originally planned to become a priest and had enrolled in seminary.
However, his trajectory changed after a series of political events, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, led him to reconsider his path.
Thomas eventually graduated from Yale University with a law degree and embarked on a career in law. He had various important positions, such as Assistant Attorney General in Missouri, legislative assistant to Senator John Danforth, and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the U.S.
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Quick Stats
| Real Name | Clarence Thomas |
| Date of birth | June 23, 1948 |
| Place of birth | PinPoint, Montgomery, GA |
| Age | 74 years old |
| Net Worth | $1 million |
| Height | 1.74 meters |
| Weight | 78 kg |
| Parents | M.C. Thomas and Leola Williams. |
Clarence Thomas Parents
Clarence Thomas’ parents are M.C. Thomas and Leola Williams. However, Clarence Thomas was born into a family of farm and domestic workers.
His father, MC Thomas, left the family when he was just two years old. Due to financial struggles, young Thomas was raised by his grandparents, who instilled a strong work ethic in him.
Clarence Thomas Educational Highlights
At 16, he pursued the priesthood and became the first black student at St. John Vianney’s Minor Seminary, later attending Conception Seminary College.
However, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Thomas became disillusioned with the church’s handling of racism and switched to studying at the College of the Holy Cross.
There, he founded the Black Students Union and was involved in various organizations, including Alpha Sigma Nu and the Purple Key Society. He graduated cum laude with a degree in English literature in 1971.
After being medically rejected from military service, Thomas attended Yale Law School, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree in 1974.
Clarence Thomas Career
After being admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1974, Clarence Thomas worked as the Assistant Attorney General of Missouri under John Danforth until 1977.
As the only black member in the office, he initially worked in the criminal appeals division before transferring to the revenue and taxation department.
When Danforth was selected for the U.S. Senate, Thomas became an attorney at the Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Missouri.
However, he soon returned to Washington, DC, to work as a Legislative Assistant to Danforth and managed energy issues for the Senate Commerce Committee from 1979 to 1981.
In 1981, Thomas joined the Reagan administration and served as the Assistant S-+-secretary of Education for the Office for Rights in the U.S. Dept of Education from 1981 to 1982.
He then became the Chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) from 1982 to 1990, where he implemented policies promoting self-reliance and individual discrimination.
In 1989, President George H.W. appointed Thomas to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He received his commission on March 6, 1990. When Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall retired in 1991, Thomas was nominated as one of the replacements.
Despite receiving low ratings from the American Bar Association due to his lack of experience, he was appointed under pressure from the White House and Republican Senators.
His conservative views, which clashed with Marshall’s liberal positions, sparked controversy and uproar. During confirmation hearings, he was accused of sexual harassment.
Nevertheless, he was confirmed by a narrow margin of 52-48 and was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Clarence Thomas Relationships
IClarence Thomas has been married twice. His first marriage was to Kathy Grace Ambush, his college sweetheart, and they had a child together.
However, their marriage ended in 1984. In 1987, he married Virginia Lamp, a lobbyist, and aide to Republican Congressman Dick Armey.
Clarence Thomas Son
Jamal Adeen Thomas is a television host and actor who was born on February 15th, 1973 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. His parents are Kathy Ambush and Justice Clarence Thomas, who is one of the Supreme Court’s most long-serving judges.
Clarence Thomas Body Measurements
Clarence Thomas, the Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, has a height of 1.74 meters and weighs around 78 kg. However, details regarding his other body measurements are unknown yet.
Clarence Thomas Net Worth
Thomas has an estimated net worth of $1 million. In 2022, he earned $274,200 as an Associate Supreme Court Justice. When he was appointed as an Associate Justice in 1991, his annual salary was $153,600, gradually increasing over time.
