Dayne Craig Thomas

Dayne Craig Thomas, 78, passed away on July 16, 2024, at his home in Pontiac, Michigan.

Dayne was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on November 19, 1945, to parents Evelyn O. Thomas and John Paul Thomas. Dayne was proud of his public education in Pontiac Schools. He attended McCarroll Elementary, Lincoln Jr. High School, and Pontiac Northern High School, where he graduated in 1963, having lettered in Football, Basketball, and Tennis as Team Captain. Following high school, Dayne studied at Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree.

Dayne proudly served his country while in the United States Army at 2d Infantry Division HQ, Camp Casey, Tong du Chon, Korea, during the Vietnam Nam era. His first posting in Korea included Camp Kaiser which was adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone where he acted as Assistant to 2d Infantry, Provost Marshal as custodian with secret clearance of classified war plans and evacuation procedures. Dayne obtained the rank of E-5 (fastest in command) and received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Dayne was exceedingly proud of his military service despite serving during a very unpopular war.

Dayne’s Professional career included domestic assignments with GM, BMW, and Toyota in sales, market research, product development, and financial services.  His financial services experience led to international assignments for AIG and Aon, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Melbourne (Victoria) Australia, with responsibility for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

After retirement, Dayne returned to his beloved boyhood home in Pontiac, Michigan. The house was purchased by his parents in August 1945, just two months before he was born. This family homestead always provided Dayne with the sense of being home. Returning “home,” Dayne sought to give back to the community. Among other things, he formed and became Chair and President of GM Modern Housing Neighborhood Association, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission was to revitalize and preserve the neighborhood housing constructed for General Motors in 1919 as housing for employees working at nearby Oakland Motor Company and Pontiac Motor facilities. Although this housing enclave is on the National Register of Historic Places, the area declined substantially in the early 2000’s.  Dayne’s organization worked to help revitalize the area and restore a source of pride in the local community. Not only were decaying houses revitalized, but he conceived and built a Community Garden, Orchard, and Vineyard on a derelict neighborhood site.

Dayne’s service to the community included his appointment as Chair of the Pontiac Planning Commission, a state law-chartered organization charged with the responsibility of making and approving a master plan as a guide for the future development of the City of Pontiac. His decade-long tenure in this position oversaw the development of the $250 million Amazon Fulfilment Center located on Featherstone Road (the previous site of the Silverdome), a state-of-the-art M-1 Concourse facility and “car condo” that transformed an 87-acre derelict GM manufacturing into a first of its kind auto enthusiast playground and the Wesson Lawn Tennis Club, the first lawn tennis facility built in the US more than 100 years located, on the site of the historic, yet abandoned Pontiac Water Plant. For his tireless work improving the City of Pontiac, Dayne was awarded the “Unsung Hero Award,” which recognized his contributions to the revitalization of the Modern Housing neighborhood as well as the City of Pontiac at large.

Dayne was a proud supporter (and sometimes critic) of his alma mater Michigan State and its football program. He was an enthusiastic blogger, and his regular postings titled “Will2Win.blog” chronicled 3 Big Ten Football Titles and 3 National “Top 5” finishes, including a Rose Bowl Victory. Although Dayne did not compete while at MSU, he was recognized as an honorary member of the Spartan Varsity Club for his commitment and dedication to MSU athletic programs.

Dayne is preceded in death by his father, John P. Thomas who passed in1956; his mother Evelyn O. Thomas who passed in 1999; his beloved brother Gary Leigh Thomas who passed in 1992; and his aunt Margaret Raduchel who passed in 2011.

Dayne is survived by his beloved nephew, John B Thomas; his wife, January Barker; their children, Elizabeth, Holly, and Dean; his niece, Jennifer Osantowske; her husband, Jerome Osantowske; and their children, Hannah and Hunter.

Although Dayne’s professional odyssey took him to far flung and exotic locations (Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Melbourne Australia), he spent the last phase of his life in peace, giving back to his friends, family, the City of Pontiac and Michigan State University in the State of Michigan.

Go Green, Go White!