Thomas A. Polk

Thomas A. Polk (deceased) was a 1950 graduate of Lehighton Area High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy and served during the Korean War. For 13 years he rose through the enlisted ranks, serving at various locations including duty on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. In 1963, he was selected for Officer Candidate School and soon was rewarded with a commission in the US Navy as an Ensign. After his Navy retirement in 1974 as a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), Thomas worked for and earned his Associate’s Degree from Cecil Community College in 1978.

Thomas’s naval career spanned over 24 years as a member of the US Navy’s enlisted and officer corps. His tours took him all over the world, including Panama where his oldest daughter, Tedi-Anne, was born. His final years as an officer were spent in the Washington, D.C. area where he was selected to serve two tours with the Navy Staff in the Pentagon. Prior to retirement in 1974, he served his final tour in the Pentagon, working in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Thomas had a unique perspective of naval life, having served as both an enlisted member and an officer. His experience was respected and that experience made him an asset on the Navy Staff which many high-ranking naval officers could come to for advice and counsel.

After leaving the Navy, Thomas moved back to his Lehighton home. He continued his service to the military by working with Lehighton’s American Legion Post 314, the Wounded Warriors Program, Gary Senise Foundation and the very successful Trees for Troops Program sponsored by Yenser’s Tree Farm. Thomas also contributed to many charities, including the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, the Lehighton Library, Lehighton Fire Association and the Lehighton Ambulance Association. He further served the Lehighton community as the Lehighton Zoning Officer for many years. Thomas can also point to four generations of his family that have served in the Navy- Thomas, his son Thomas II, grandson Marc and a great grandson Derrick.

Thomas has four children, Thomas II, Tedi Anne, Tina and Timothy and four stepchildren, Fiane, Donnalyn, Barbara and Charles. His widow, Dolores Polk, currently resides in Lehighton.