Dean S. Thomas
Dean S. Thomas, today’s foremost authority on Civil War small arms ammunition, first visited Gettysburg in 1960. His interest in the Civil War and the collection of Civil War artifacts began with the start of the Centennial celebration in 1961 when he visited Gettysburg again—and found his first bullet.
A graduate of Haddon Township High School in Westmont, New Jersey in 1966, Thomas attended Gettysburg College, then graduated from Glassboro State College in Glassboro, New Jersey in 1972 with a B.A. in history. During this time he spent five-summer seasons as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park.
He founded Thomas Publications in 1981 with the authorship of Ready…Aim…Fire!, followed not long after by Cannons and Civil War Commanders. Round Ball to Rimfire is the result of a lifelong interest in, and study of, Civil War small arms ammunition, and has grown to a four volume set. His latest work, Confederate Arsenals, Laboratories, and Ordnance Depots, three volumes, was published in 2014. During the period, 1994 to 2014, Thomas steadfastly encouraged Prichard and Huey in their work on The English Connection and contributed substantially to the small arms ammunition chapter. He and his brother, Jim, provided the index, final editing and published this book.
An almost 50-year resident of Adams County, Pennsylvania Dean now lives in Fairfield with his wife Sally. He is an elected Borough Councilor and enjoys being the Council liaison to the Fairfield Historic Architectural Review Board.