Robert Eugene Thomas

Robert Eugene Thomas, 88, of Boca Raton, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, May 23rd, 2025. Bob, or Bobby T as many called him was born in Aliceville, Alabama on July 30th, 1936. After losing his mother when he was just an infant, Bob was raised by his grandparents and aunt and uncle. Some of his early memories on the farm included hours picking cotton before and after school, something that Bob remembered and vowed he would never do again. Eventually Bob moved in with his older brother James and sister-in-law, Joan.

At age 18, Bob decided it was time to move on by himself and in August of 1954, he enlisted in the Air Force. Stationed in the Pacific Rim, Bob moved up through the ranks and held various positions analyzing enemy communications. After serving his country for four years, Bob returned to Mississippi to live with his brother once again. There, he worked two different jobs while completing his business degree at Mississippi State. Bob had a personality larger than life and his ability to sell eventually led him to a successful career with IBM selling their latest typewriters. After working for a gentleman named Pete Harbin, at IBM, Pete convinced Bob to move to Chicago to work for an upstart company called Sensormatic Electronics, a leading manufacturer of anti-theft tags and closed-circuit TV security equipment. Bob had an illustrious career at Sensormatic which included a historic sale to Carson Pirie Scott which saved the company from missing a loan payment and being taken over. Bob along with his dear friend Bob Lesnikowski would continue to sell Sensormatic throughout the United States. Bob never missed making his quota every year and attended every 100% Club. Bob was also involved with negotiating Sensormatic's Olympic sponsorship as the Official Security Supplier for the Atlanta and Salt Lake City summer and Winter Olympics, as well as protecting and sponsoring the men's USA Olympic Basketball Team in Atlanta and Sydney, Australia.

Bob traveled the world with Sensormatic where his sales achievements were written into the company's history and folklore. Bob was one of the first inductees into Sensormatic's Hall of Fame recognizing his outstanding sales and marketing contributions and achieving over ten 100% club incentive trips. Bob was an impeccable dresser who always looked sharp at work, church or even the golf course. Bob was also a great athlete playing football in the service and at Mississippi State. He loved fishing with his brothers. He was also passionate about playing golf, eventually becoming a single handicap golfer and a member at both Calumet CC in Illinois and Broken Sound Country Club where he lived in Boca Raton. Bob will be deeply missed by the love of his life for 52 wonderful years, Judy, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Bob will also be missed by the hundreds of men, women, and customers he met, mentored, and became a father figure to at Sensormatic. Bob was a man of God and never missed attending church or professing his love of his savior Jesus Christ. In lieu of Flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made in his name to Coral Ridge Presbyterian church in Ft. Lauderdale at https://g2g.crpc.org/give/ , or to The Chiera Family Foundation helping kids battling cancer at https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=B4VFEQFZGMADA . A celebration of life memorial service will take place at Coral Ridge Presbyterian church located at 5555 N. Federal Hwy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Friday, June 13th, at 10 o’clock in the morning.