The year of 1945 brought some notable events such as President Roosevelt's unprecedented fourth term and less than 3 months he suddenly expired leaving President Truman to become the 33rd President. This was also the year when World War II finally ended. On the 25th or the 26th of June, 1945, east of the Tallahatchie River in the small town of Charleston, Mississippi, a noteworthy event for Rosie Ross Thomas and her husband occurred; the birth of their new baby, OC Thomas, a giant of stature and character. OC was brother to Robert, John D., and Edward. Also, his other siblings, CW, LC Jr., and Mary preceded him in death. As the young OC lived through the worst economic, political and civil rights struggles, it helped to shape him into the giant that people knew. Standing 6'4" OC, also known as Mickey, was not only tall in stature but spirit as well. With skill and a larger than life will, he became an All-star basketball player as a forward and center for Jackson State College in spite of the inferior southern, segregated school system. In 1965, OC met and married the beautiful Delois McClendon; and to this union are five children, Chandrea Thomas Hopkins (Mark), Jacqueline Kay Thomas (Lewis Calvin Henry), Nakiesha Drummond, Otis Christopher Thomas (Tammy) and Kalia Luciana Thomas. Living in Mississippi post-slavery was challenging for a black man. OC realized that while African Americans were supposed to be free, white folks found a way to still enslave you such as, the sharecropper concept to live and work on their land but never earn enough to leave; and also, twelve hours of hard labor for a measly three dollars. OC's favorite line was, "I don't operate like that!" He was known to declare this on a regular basis and to be a man of his convictions; and with that being said, this became the impetus to move his family to Chicago in 1967. Fortunately, the unstoppable giant found better employment opportunities working for Dobbs House Catering aka/Gate Gourmet who serviced all the airlines at O'Hare Airfield as a Union Steward until he retired. All of OC's life he had celebrated his birthday on June 25th but upon retirement he was told by Social Security that his birth was recorded as June 26th . During his tenure with Dobbs House Catering, he met Hattie B. Council who worked for Delta Airlines; and who he later married and became father to her five children, Antoinette Guinyard Council, Rosetta Kearse, Reginia, Victor and Walter Council. OC Thomas loved music and grew up listening to great blues singers like, Muddy Waters, Little Milton, and B. B. King. OC was well known to hit the stage in night clubs from Chicago to Indiana. He covered songs of Curtis Mayfield like, "I'm So Proud," and the blues song "Little Blue Bird" in which the ladies went crazy as he incorporated doing splits with his vocals. As a former athlete, OC was very agile even in his old age he continued to exercise and do planks. He also, loved to take fishing trips when time permitted. OC Thomas loved to relax with old western movies, watch CNN to stay current with world news, and all sports on television as he kicked back with his favorite drink, Bumpy Face and a Kool Blue Short cigarette. While OC wasn't a religious man, he was spiritual and subscribed to the Christian philosophy as throughout his entire life the gentle giant was known to be very kind and tried to help everyone. He loved kicking it with his grandchildren and buying them candy. He openly gave his life to Christ on May 27, 2020 while watching a television evangelist as witnessed by his daughter, Jacqueline who cared for him during his health challenge until his demise. He also loved listening to Dr. Creflo Dollar and his wife Taffi in his last days. OC Thomas leaves his siblings, all of his children, grandchildren, a host of other family members and friends to cherish his memory.