Vernon Thomas (wrestler)

Vernon Thomas
Personal information
Birth nameVernon Lawrence Walter Thomas
Born(1914-08-27)27 August 1914
Died17 November 1957(1957-11-17) (aged 43)
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportWrestling
Achievements and titles
National finalsWelterweight champion (1935, 1936, 1938)
Lightweight champion (1937)
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Men's wrestling
British Empire Games
Silver medal – second place 1938 Sydney Lightweight

Vernon Lawrence Walter Thomas (27 August 1914 – 17 November 1957) was a New Zealand wrestler who won a silver medal at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Biography

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Born on 27 August 1914, Thomas was the son of Rubena Birss and her husband Walter Samuel Thomas.[1]

Thomas won four New Zealand national amateur wrestling titles: the welterweight title in 1935,[2] 1936,[3] and 1938;[4] and the lightweight championship in 1937.[5] At the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, he won the silver medal in the men's lightweight division.[6]

Thomas died on 17 November 1957,[7] and his ashes were buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Birth search: registration number 1914/6947". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Wrestling". The Press. 30 October 1935. p. 18. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  3. ^ "N.Z. amateur wrestling titles". Northern Advocate. 29 September 1938. p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Amateur wrestling: the Dominion championships". Evening Star. 20 September 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Wrestling titles". Evening Star. 29 September 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Vernon Thomas". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Cemeteries search: cremation". Wellington City Council. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Cemeteries search: ashes burial". Wellington City Council. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2018.