DOWNTOWN BELLEVILLE REFLECTIONS Al Kelleher The Downtown Crier Donald "Pinhead" Thomas Don Thomas (his friends called him by the nickname "Pinhead") was raised in Belleville and was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Ed. Thomas. Ed Thomas was the proprietor of the Ed. Thomas Cigar Store at 182 Front Street and it was later owned and run by Don Thomas. Before World War 2, Don played Junior baseball and was catcher and captain. During this time he obtained a rule book and became an expert on the playing rules of baseball. After his Junior days were over in the middle thirties he started umpiring in the old C.O.B.L. which had teams like Belleville, Kingston, Peterborough, Oshawa, Napanee and Port Hope. His fellow umpires were Ken Colling, Twig Woodley, Herb Pointer and Scott. He spent five years overseas during World War 2. He spent his time over there with his buddies Jim "Snipe" Matthews, Harold "Bingo" Ried and Walt Gerow Jr. On his return to Belleville, he went to work for his father and he also helped manage the Belleville Juvenile hockey team along with his old buddy Walt Gerow Jr. He ran for, and was elected to City Council for many years and was on many committees. He ran for Mayor but was unsuccessful. At one time he was a valued member of the Belleville Theatre Guild. In 1951 he coached the Belleville Batawa baseball team with such players and Art Wright, Earl "Mouse" Bush, Ken Peacock and Johnny Aquino. In the middle 60*s he finished his umpiring career. In the early 70's he sold the landmark Ed. Thomas Cigar Store and all his memorabilia pictures that decorated the walls of the store. He moved to England where he passed away, leaving his English wife. Don "Pinhead" Thomas was a good citizen, a real gentleman and a valued friend to all his many friends. IP: :^.