Robert K. Thomas

Robert K. Thomas is the founder of the Brigham Young University Honors Program and served as its first director. He was inspired by his own experience as an Honors student at Reed College in Oregon. He held a master’s degree from the University of Oregon and a PhD degree from Columbia University. He later received an honorary doctorate from BYU.

Thomas joined the BYU faculty in 1951. He was a professor of English and academic vice-president of the university. Thomas retired in 1983.

He was also a literary critic. He published an article in 1972, A Literary Analysis of the Book of Mormon, the first significant work to provide a literary analysis of the text instead of debate its origins. With Bruce B. Clark, he co-authored the five-volume series, Out of the Best Books.

After his passing on October 3, 1998, BYU created the Robert K. Thomas professorship in the J. Reuben Clark Law School. BYU also offers an endowed scholarship fund in his name to be granted to Honors students.

Thomas was born on July 22, 1918. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and presided over the Australia Melbourne Mission. He and his wife, Shirley, had three children. Shirley served as second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency from 1978 to 1983.