After 21 years in the state legislature, Indianola resident and former educator District 31 Rep. Sara Richardson Thomas is calling it quits. Thomas formally announced on Friday that Saturday would be her last day in the position.
Thomas said she originally tendered her letter of resignation to the Speaker of the House in April but told him she wasn’t telling anybody and that he shouldn’t tell anyone either.
“I have enjoyed my stay in the state legislature, but it is time for me to go, she said.
Thomas said she began her tenure in June more than two decades ago, and she wanted to finish in June.
“I wanted to leave on a happy note,” she said.
Thomas expressed her gratitude to everyone for allowing her to serve for as long as she has but said it is now time for someone else who feels that they can better serve to take office.
Thomas has a strong affection for education and she said she hopes that more emphasis is put on education because she would like to see everybody receive the necessary tools to succeed.
At the state’s capitol Thomas served on the Education, Agriculture, Ethics, Youth and Family Affairs committees and as vice chairwoman of the Tourism Committee.
When asked how she plans to spend her retirement, Thomas said she plans to travel and go shopping, something that she has not really taken the time to do while in office. “If I am on a job, I like to do my job,” she said. Often times when she was invited to go places Thomas declined because her work in the legislature came first.
As she reflected back on her life, Thomas shared that she has so much to be thankful for. “I often tell people that it’s not where you come from, but where you aspire to go.” She said. Thomas said she would never tell anybody they can’t be or do because of where they came from.
In a moment of self-reflection, Thomas said, “The same hands that once picked cotton are the same hands that help make laws for the state.”
Thomas extolled the virtues of her parents and the values they instilled in her and her siblings. She said they thoroughly believed in the importance of education. Her parents instilled in them that if they wanted something better, they could do it.
When school ended that didn’t mean the learning stopped Thomas said. They still had to hit the books and her older brothers and sisters had to check their lessons and sign off on them before any other activities could start. “We couldn't play until it was all done,” she said. Thomas said her parents wanted better for their children than they had.
Thomas said her husband was the only one she told that she planned to retire and told him he better not tell anybody. She said that was to avert the numerous calls like the ones she started getting on Friday once the news broke. Friends and colleagues were expressing how if they had known she was planning to retire, they would try to talk her out of it, “I didn’t want that,” she said, “I’m gone, like go, went, gone, I’m gone,” she said jokingly.
Thomas said she made a point of going into each workday at the capitol with a positive attitude and made a point of seeking out anyone who didn’t seem to be having a positive experience in order to brighten their day. She had a personal catchphrase that would always generate a smile she said.
Thomas offered up a bit of parting advise for those who may be seeking to fill her shoes or just for the everyday walk… Life is a journey, take it one day at a time—When you think the task is too hard, look to the hills from whence comes all of your help. My help come the Lord God almighty, who made heaven and earth.
Her greatest piece of advice was do not get bogged down with problems. Other people have problems and some are much worse than yours. If you were to lay yours alongside theirs then you would see that what you’re going through is not so bad after all.
Thomas said she always tried to maintain a good working relationship with people because that goes a long way toward a peaceful existence.
In conclusion, she asserted. “I am a big fan of Frank Sinatra, I did it my way,” Thomas said.
