Houston Police legend Edward A. Thomas dies at age 95

Houston Police announced Monday, Aug. 10, 2015 that retired officer Edward A. Thomas died at age 95 of natural causes. H ere, he is honored as Officer of the Year by the 100 Club in 1976.﻿ Last week, Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. suggested honoring him further - as the namesake of HPD's headquarters. less Houston Police announced Monday, Aug. 10, 2015 that retired officer Edward A. Thomas died at age 95 of natural causes. H ere, he is honored as Officer of the Year by the 100 Club in 1976.﻿ Last week, Police ... more Photo: Photo Courtesy Of The Houston Po Photo: Photo Courtesy Of The Houston Po Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Houston Police legend Edward A. Thomas dies at age 95 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

On Monday morning the Houston Police Department announced the death of retired Senior Police Officer Edward A. Thomas.

Thomas died Monday morning at the age of 95 of natural causes.

On July 27 the department's 26-story Travis Street building was renamed for Thomas, who served 63 years with HPD. He was known as "Mr. Thomas" around the department by friends and fellow officers.

"Mr. Thomas persevered and served with dedication and hard work. At the time of his retirement, he was the most revered and respected officer within the Houston Police Department," the department said in a statement Monday.

RELATED: A man of few words, retired policeman Thomas honored in headquarters naming (HoustonChronicle.com)

Thomas graduated from Cadet Class No. 1 in 1948. As one of HPD's first black officers, he worked a foot patrol in a mostly-black neighborhood because he wasn't allowed to drive a squad car. Subjects had to be taken to jail on foot or using mass transit, and he had to ask for a supervisor's permission before arresting a white person.

Thomas also wasn't allowed to dine with white officers or share their water fountains.

"I am saddened to hear of Mr. Thomas' passing," HPD Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. was quoted in the department's statement. "He was a man who I respected immensely and was honored to know and call my friend. The Houston Police Department and the City of Houston was a better place of having had him as an officer."

In recognition of his 63 years of service, HPD renamed its headquarters for Thomas on July 27; Thomas name was scheduled to be added in gold letters to the front of the building at 12oo Travis in the coming weeks. At a naming ceremony held in his honor, Houston Mayor Annise Parker recognized the retired officer's "dignity and grace," and applauded his "community-oriented policing."