Edwin R. Thomas died on September 13, 1936 at the age of 86. Born in Pennsylvania, Mr. Thomas was educated in Indiana, and after college entered the business of marine transportation. He would continue in the marine and railway transportation industry for about 25 years. In 1895, he engaged in the manufacturing of Cleveland Bicycles in Toronto, Canada. In 1900, he moved to Buffalo where he began to manufacture motorcycles, before turning his attention to automobiles. He became the sole owner of the E.R. Thomas Motor Company. The firm became one of the world’s leading concerns of its kind. On February 12, 1908, six automobiles started on what is still regarded in automobile circles as the greatest endurance race ever held - a dash virtually around the world. Mr. Thomas entered his 1907 Thomas Flyer in the race representing the United States, and it won. In 1911, Mr. Thomas retired from the automobile business and his company was sold to the United States Motor Company. The E.R. Thomas Motor Company was located on Niagara Street, and the building still stands. Edwin R. Thomas is buried in Section 26 in Forest Lawn.