Caldwell County Commissioner Dyral Thomas was born and raised in Lockhart, TX where he graduated from Lockhart High School. As a student-athlete, he was awarded a football scholarship to attend the University of Houston, leading his team to win the 1976 Cotton Bowl before playing in the National Football League. He is still an athletic competitor and plans to run the upcoming Cinco De Mayo 5K for
the 13th year in row. Commissioner Thomas is a successful entrepreneur and he also served for 12 years as a Firefighter, EMT, and Paramedic with the Houston Fire Department. However, most people in Caldwell County know Commissioner Thomas as “Coach T” for his work as a devoted coach and educator since 1998. Outside of coaching sports, Commissioner Thomas has coached and mentored countless young people on navigating their path in life, including through his Phi Beta Sigma fraternity network. Commissioner Thomas’s public service includes his work as a former board member on the Lockhart Economic Development Corporation, on the Lockhart Parks Department. He is the founder and 20-year sponsor of Neighborhood Community Association’s Chisholm Trail Roundup Celebration, and he is a longstanding and active member of St Mark’s United Methodist Church. As a community organizer, Commissioner Thomas has and will continue to bring people together to build a better Caldwell County for future generations. Commissioner Thomas is father to his daughter Alexandria and his son Trenton, who was just recently named in the Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs of Texas 2024 List. He has four grandchildren: Hallie, Harlie, Henley, and Harrison.
