Thomas, George (1909-1997), Viscount Tonypandy, was speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom Parliament, from 1976 until 1983. He had been deputy speaker since 1974. Thomas George Thomas was born in Tonypandy, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales, on Jan. 29, 1909. He was educated at Southampton University. He was first elected to Parliament for the Labour Party in 1945 and held several junior ministerial posts. Thomas served as secretary of state for Wales from 1968 to 1970. He was made Viscount Tonypandy in 1983. He died on Sept. 22, 1997.
