College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

When Dr. Louis Thomason started his freshman year at Oklahoma State University in 1956 after graduating from Enid High School, he was tasked with taking the first steps of his monumental career hike. He began his ascent when he was welcomed into the industry by International Business Machines Co., working in Software Architecture and Design after graduating with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering.

 

For over four decades, Dr. Thomason worked with the management and development of high-end computer systems, designing and constructing advanced software and network communication products at IBM, in addition to becoming a senior technical staff member. He also served as the chair of the task force that helped display IBM’s software functionality to a wide range of customers before eventually being transferred to the European division to lead the same discussions.  

 

Along with leadership in systems software at IBM, Louis taught at a number of universities, including Virginia Tech, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, State University of New York Ulster (SUNY) and even his alma mater, Oklahoma State University. Over the years, he guided countless students through his classes, but one of his most memorable experiences remains teaching like-minded individuals about transistors at the FAA Training Center in Oklahoma City. While pursuing his doctorate, Louis also served as the co-director of OSU's Engineering Computing Center, where he gained real-world experience with early computing technology and formed influential professional relationships that helped his entry into IBM. 

 

Throughout his teaching years, and even before his time at OSU (Oklahoma A&M as his parents called it when they attended), Louis has always viewed education as a cornerstone of personal and professional fulfillment. “Education to me is the basis for an enjoyable, rewarding life,” Louis said. 

 

He stated that his time spent learning in the classroom prepared him not only for his rich and influential career at IBM, but his rewarding and joyful time working with young students as a professor. This belief throughout his life has allowed Louis to be selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who, a biographical directory that profiles notable or accomplished individuals across various professions. 

 

After retiring from IBM, Louis continued to live by the Cowboy Code in his everyday life, teaching at SUNY Ulster as an adjunct professor, where he supported veterinary technology applications developed by his students. He ensured accessibility on institutional networks, an important factor for accreditation purposes. He has also continued exploring new programming tools developed with artificial intelligence, completing the Google AI Essentials Certification earlier this year.