Thomas Winston Ramsey

Thomas Winston Ramsey was born more than 114 years ago on February 8th, 1905 in Tampa, Florida to his Mother Nellie Agnes Collier and Father Thomas William Ramsey.

** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Thomas's birth year of 1905 included...

• On March 4th, 1905 Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in for a full term as the 26th President of the United States.

• On March 13th, 1905 Mata Hari introduces her exotic dance act in Paris at the Guimet Museum.

• On May 15th, 1905 – Las Vegas is founded when 110 acres in what later becomes downtown, are auctioned off..

• On June 30th, 1905 Albert Einstein publishes the article "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies", establishing the theory of special relativity.

• On August 9th, 1905 Hall of Fame baseball player Ty Cobb's Mother Amanda kills her husband after mistaking him for a burglar...

• On October 5th, 1905 the Wright brothers' third aeroplane (The Wright Flyer III) stays in the air for 39 minutes with Wilbur piloting... It is the first aeroplane flight lasting for more than 1/2 hour.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*

Thomas Winston was the eldest child born to his Mother and Father. He had a younger Brother by the name of Allan Collier and a Sister, Elizabeth.

Ramsey Patriarch, Thomas William supports his family as a very successful lumber manufacturer

Thomas Winston was one of the most intelligent students in his Hillsborough high School graduating class of 1922. He was also an avid tennis player while attending the University of Orlando in the mid-1920s.

Both Thomas Winston and his Brother Allan were very active in the local social scene as the Sons of a successful businessman. There are hundreds of examples through newspaper clippings that include events at yacht clubs, dances, and societal activities that they took part in...

Thomas Winston marries his wife Helen Pittman on New year's day, 1934. The couple never have children.

Already a successful businessman Thomas Winston enlists with the United States Army in October of 1940 and is sent to train at Camp Wheeler in Georgia. He would later be stationed in Bangor, Maine, Hunter Field in Georgia, Great falls Montana, and eventually at the Iceland base command with the United States Air Force as its base quartermaster !!

Both Thomas Winston and his Brother Allan rose through the ranks and became Lieutenant Colonel's !!

After the conclusion of the Second World War both Brothers came back to Tampa and continued in a variety of successful business ventures that included the lumber business, home building, and later real estate!! Thomas Winston remained a reservist until 1956

On Sunday May 6th, 1951 at the age of 43 Thomas's younger brother Allan shoots himself in the head with a 25 caliber pistol at the family home. He would die on Monday morning May the 7th,. He leaves behind his wife Harriet and two Daughters. Judy and his wife's namesake, Harriet...

In addition to his tremendous business acumen Thomas Winston founded the Ybor City chamber of commerce and was a proponent and catalysts for its redevelopment !!

In 1958 Thomas Winston is admitted to the hospital for psychiatric care but seems to be doing well according to his wife Helen over the course of the next couple of years.

In the early morning hours of Thursday April 14th, 1960 Thomas Winston Ramsey loaded a 12 gauge shotgun and like his brother 9 years earlier placed it to his head and pulled the trigger. He dies instantly

Thomas Winston Ramsey... Beloved Husband, Son, and Patriot...