MILAN, ILLINOIS (August 4, 2025) — Kermit Thomas has been a Quad City resident since 2013, raising his three children as a single father in Moline. For twenty-seven years, he served our country as an Army Logistics Officer. Now it is time for him to serve the great and hardworking people of western Illinois.
Raised in Texas with rural and urban roots, Thomas enlisted in the 82nd Airborne after graduating from Conroe High School. Thomas earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing from Prairie View A&M University (an HBCU) as a distinguished ROTC military graduate. He retired as a field grade officer at Rock Island Arsenal in 2016 and has worked at John Deere on special projects and as a substitute teacher in local districts. He has also been an entrepreneur, owning a production company, timrek3 Studios, and has served as pastor at Central Church of Christ in Davenport, Iowa, since 2019.
Kermit has been active in many facets of life in the Quad Cities. He currently serves as First Vice President of the Rock Island County NAACP and is a charter member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Quad Cities as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, one of the Divine Nine. He served on the board of PlayCrafters theater for two years and most recently was involved in their production of The Piano Lesson.
He cares about the health of youth in our community, sponsoring a Boys Youth Forum mentoring young minority men that helps them focus on education and well-being. Promoting mental health and serving the homeless are consistent areas of his volunteer work. He’s excited to advocate for all residents of the 71st District in Illinois.
