Honoring a Legacy: IRSC Posthumously Names Thomas Henry Thurlow, Jr., Trustee Emeritus

May 25, 2022 Robert Lane

FORT PIERCE, FL—The Indian River State College Thomas Thurlow
(IRSC) District Board of Trustees conferred the honor of Trustee Emeritus to former IRSC District Board of Trustees member Thomas H. Thurlow, Jr. during its regular meeting held Tuesday, May 24. The Board presented the posthumous recognition to Mr. Thurlow’s wife of 59 years, Sandy Thurlow.

“In addition to being a devoted family man and attorney, Thomas Thurlow was an ardent supporter of Indian River State College and our community,” shares IRSC President Dr. Timothy Moore. “For his outstanding leadership and service to our College District Board of Trustees it is befitting to add the designation of ‘Trustee Emeritus’ to his legacy.”

Thurlow was appointed to the IRSC District Board of Trustees in June 1997 and served as Chairman of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. During his tenure, the Association of Florida Community Colleges recognized the IRSC District Board of Trustees as the most exemplary board in the State with the 1998 Community College District Board of Trustees of the Year Award.

Thurlow was very involved in his community. He was active in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, served as president of the Martin County Bar Association, sat on the Board of Directors for First National Bank and Trust Company of Stuart (Seacoast Bank), and was president of the Kiwanis Club of Stuart.

A faithful and loving father, husband, friend, and community advocate Thurlow loved tennis, ocean fishing with friends, and foreign travel. He and his wife Sandy enjoyed studying, collecting, and sharing Florida history. In 2011, he published The Early Lawyers of Martin County, The First Forty Years, 1925 to 1965.

Thurlow graduated as valedictorian from Stuart High School in 1954 (now Martin County High), where he played basketball and football—becoming captain. Thurlow took great pride in having been coached by war hero Fergie Ferguson. He then attended the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, followed by a law degree in 1961. In 1962, Thurlow began service as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the U.S. Air Force at Travis Air Force Base, California, before joining his father at Thurlow & Thurlow, P.A.—one of the Stuart's oldest law firms.