Fred Thomas: Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Fred’s unwavering commitment to bettering lives transformed the community, embodying the essence of true leadership and compassion.

Since 1986, native New Yorker Fred Thomas has been one of the most influential forces pushing to serve the underprivileged community in Immokalee, Fla.

Fred passed on Wednesday, May 22, at the age of 84. However, his legacy as the Unofficial Mayor of Immokalee lives on through the lasting effects of his work, which aimed to improve the quality and accessibility of public housing in Collier County.

In 1967, Fred graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. This marked the beginning of Fred’s work in the field of Public Housing, where he started the journey as an intern.

Originally from Harlem, NY, Fred spent a portion of his early career relocating to different cities nationwide to improve each area’s public housing sector. After assuming his role as the Executive Director for the Collier County Housing Authority (CCHA) in 1986, Fred found himself enamored with the complex landscape of Immokalee and decided to dedicate the rest of his career to bettering the community.

“There was something about it that just held him here. He thought he could make a difference,” said Cherryle Thomas, Fred’s wife.

Danny Gonzalez, owner of Lozano’s Mexican Restaurant and President of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, believes that Fred’s fierce dedication and relentless drive to serve Immokalee helped him genuinely connect with the community.

“He wasn’t even from here, but he treasured Immokalee like it was his hometown,” Gonzalez said. “He blended in with the people here. It didn’t matter if you were Haitian, Mexican, Guatemalan, or anything else in this town. He helped everyone.”

During the first two years of his work at the CCHA, Fred devoted his summers to becoming proficient in Spanish by taking college courses. Cherryle, Fred’s wife and former Director of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, recalls how Fred immersed himself in the language to communicate with Immokalee’s primarily Hispanic demographic effectively.

“He wanted to learn properly,” Cherryle said. “Until the day my husband left, he would speak Spanish with anybody. He even did his applications, contracts, everything in the language.”

Those who have seen Fred in action often note his commanding presence. Equipped with the makings of a natural born leader, Fred knew how to wrangle any rowdy committee meeting just by using two words.

“If he wanted everybody’s attention, he used these words: ‘Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me,’” Cherryle said.

Though his famous catchphrase helped garner the attention of an entire room, Fred’s innovative ideas and undeniable results kept it.

Blake Gable, CEO of Barron Collier Companies and developer of Ave Maria, observed how Fred’s unrelentingly dedicated character distinguished him from other community leaders.

“He was the first guy to call and he was always willing to be a part of any organization, any citizen group, any discussion, any public meeting,” Gable said. “It didn’t matter what it was, where it was, or what time of day it was. Fred was going to be there.”

One of the most notable projects that cemented Fred’s legacy as a voice for the underserved was his work to improve the Farm Workers Village housing development in Immokalee. The development offers reduced-rent housing to farm workers, most of whom are migrants.

While working with the CCHA and attending meetings for any of the 56 boards that he was on, Fred also made sure to foster mentor-type relationships with the community’s emerging youth.

Vice President of First Bank and Director of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce Bernardo Barnhart fondly regarded Fred as his mentor. Barnhart believed that Fred’s eagerness to pass on his knowledge and career advice would effectively empower the rising generation of community leaders.

“He really embraced the youth,” Barnhart said. “He took it upon himself to let you know that your word means something, that you stand for something.”

A strong advocate for education, Fred often preached the value of academics to the neighborhood youth. He even tutored a group of high schoolers in preparation for their SAT exam and assisted in setting up a scholarship for students in public housing.

Though Fred was often encouraged to run for Immokalee’s County Commissioner, he believed that he could achieve more for the residents of Immokalee if he was not in public office.

“He wasn’t beholden to any constituency other than he was going to do what he thought was best for Immokalee,” Gable said.

Although the acclaim that comes with a seat in public office can be alluring, Fred stood by what he felt would be most beneficial for the community, as a role in politics could have limited the scope and impact of his work.

Fred’s focus on solving issues plaguing the community of Immokalee created a profound impact on thousands of lives. Through it all, he carried with him the same values as he once shared in a 1997 article highlighting his advocacy:

“It’s important for me to do the right thing, not the popular thing,” Fred said. “You’ve got to do what’s necessary and right.”

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