Family members are remembering Livingston Parish real estate mogul and DSLD Homes founding partner Herbert Allen Thomason Sr. as an engaging negotiator whose love of business and trading was matched by his love of animals.
According to his family, Thomason, 83, died Sunday at Baton Rouge General-Bluebonnet from complications of multiple myeloma.
“During his life Allen had many pets, including Sam, an African Lion that he raised in his house with his family. Sam went on to retire as Southeastern Louisiana University’s mascot, Roomie the Lion,” the family says in an obituary provided to Daily Report.
Thomason also had an Stump-tailed baboon, a tiger, deer, squirrels, cats and dogs, his family says.
An entrepreneur turned real estate developer, Thomason developed many Livingston Parish subdivisions such as Richmond Place, Easterly Lakes, Crestwood and Fountainbleau.
His companies also developed in Ascension Parish, building subdivisions such as River Ridge and Keystone of Galvez, while amassing a fortune estimated to be worth hundreds of millions. In 2006, he sold a portion of his operations for $35 million.
“Negotiating, or trading was his specialty, he enjoyed the process of making a trade as his primary hobby. Whether he was negotiating the sale of a multimillion-dollar business, or trading in an old car for a new one, he would work until he got the best possible result he could bargain for,” his family says. “Anyone who ever found themselves on the other side of a negotiation with Allen would tell you that he was one of the best at finding a solution that would work for all parties involved.”
Business Report featured Thomason in May 2010 cover story titled “The real estate mogul of Livingston Parish.”
In it, he is described as a self-made businessman, born at the height of the Great Depression, who kept a low profile, dressed humbly and remained a “virtual unknown commodity in Baton Rouge business circles.”
“I always believed that I could be better off and that I should be and owed it to myself to be,” Thomason told Business Report about his impoverished life growing up.
Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 29 at Abundant Life Church, 206 Edgewood Drive, Denham Springs, with a memorial service to follow. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Flowers may be sent so that they arrive at the church starting at noon on Friday.
