| Joe Thomas | |
 | |
| Birth: | 1 May 1875 Louisiana, USA |
| Death: | 14 December 1986 Louisiana, USA |
| Age: | 111 years, 227 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Joseph Pleasant "Joe" Thomas (1 May 1875 – 14 December 1986) was a validated American supercentenarian who was the world's oldest living man at the time of his death. He was the oldest man ever from Louisiana until his age was surpassed by Lawrence Brooks
Biography[]
Joseph Thomas was born in Fort Necessity, Franklin County, Louisiana, United States to parents Frank Thomas and Silvia Pleasant. Frank was a Caucasian farmer and Silvia was African-American; a relatively rare occurence in United States during the 1870s.
In 1901, when Joe was around 25-26, he married Sarah Taliaferro. She had been married previously and already had two children. The couple had an additional six children in total. During World War I, he enlisted in the U.S. army.
Towards the end of his life, he battled a lengthy illness, from which he died in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, Louisiana, United States on 14 December 1986 at the age of 111 years, 227 days, and was believed to be the world's oldest living man at the time of his death. His case was not verified until July 2002 by the SSA study, and Guinness did not recuperate the "oldest living man" category until 2000. He was the oldest recognized living man from February 1986 until his own death. Following his death, Herman Smith-Johannsen became the world's oldest living man.
References[]
- Joseph Pleasant “Joe” Thomas Sr. Find a Grave
- Joe Thomas (1875 - 1986) Ancestry