Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Maryland Veterans Cemetery Crownsville

James Edgar “Jim” Thornton, 84, a 16-year resident of Annapolis and previously of Potomac, MD, passed away on November 14, 2016 after a 20-year battle with cancer.  Born on August 27, 1932 in Westfield, IA to the late Alfonso and Marie Thornton, Jim joined the Iowa National Guard in 1947 and the U.S. Air Force in 1950 where he served on the Air/Sea Rescue Squad.  After his discharge in 1954, Jim entered the University of Denver and earned his bachelor’s degree in Internal Relations and Economics in 1958.  Jim would continue his studies in 1980 when he enrolled in the Harvard Business School’s Senior Executive Program.
Jim began a career in government as Manager of the Colorado Wheat Commission.  During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he became Western Regional Director for Civil Defense.  Jim was a Presidential Advance Man for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.  From 1963 to 1970, Jim served as the Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.  During that time, he also served as the National Director of Scheduling Advance Operations for Hubert Humphrey’s presidential campaign.  Jim later became the Staff Director of the U.S. Senate’s Agriculture Rural Development Subcommittee during which time he crafted legislation declaring the revitalization of rural America as one of the highest national priorities.
On a personal level, Jim devoted himself as a crusader for children and human wellness, and in partnership with Rodney Leonard, was the driving force behind the development and passage of legislation in 1970 that created the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.  WIC is a $7 billion annual program that benefits over half of all babies in the United States today.
Jim completed his Federal career as the Executive Director of the Federal Advisory Committee on National Growth Policy Processes and Associate Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Home Administration where he received the USDA’s Superior Service Award for Outstanding Performance.  After retiring from Federal service, Jim became the CEO of the Joint Agriculture Consultative Corporation which is a joint venture between private business and developing countries to improve food production.  He also founded AgroMed LLC. 
In his private life, Jim enjoyed traveling and visited 110 countries during his lifetime.  He also enjoyed salmon and trout fishing in Newfoundland, CA, playing the piano and spoons, military history and stamp collecting.  He was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Loyal Order of Moose.  Jim’s greatest passion though was spending time with his family.
Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Stegman.  He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Teresa “Lynn” Thornton; three children, Janet Willing, Brian (Toni) Thornton and Mark (Elke) Thornton; son-in-law, Bill Stegman; eight grandchildren, Stephanie,,Jessica, Hugh and Wesley Hammond, Benjamin Stegman and Samantha, Rita and James Thornton; and great-grandson, Kingston Thornton.
Friends are invited to celebrate Jim’s life with his family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 17 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD.  Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 18 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD.  Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.  Online condolences and tributes may be offered by using the link in the left column of this page.




James E. Thornton

James E. Thornton

James Thornton Services

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