Thomas William Lester (1938 - 2020)

Born 23 Sep 1938 in Laurel, Jones, Mississippi, United States

Ancestors

Died 20 Apr 2020 at age 81 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Pierce [send private message]

Biography

Tom Lester is Notable.

I had all the fun of being on "Green Acres" and laughing every day and having a great time. I had all the fun of traveling across the country and meeting wonderful people in churches. God gets all the credit, and I get all the fun. What a great deal!--Tom Lester^[1]

Tom Lester was "an American actor and evangelist, best known for his role as Eb Dawson, farmhand to Oliver Wendell Douglas (played by Eddie Albert) on the television series Green Acres. He appeared in two feature animal films, Gordy and Benji."^[2]

He was born Thomas William Lester 23 September 1938 in Laurel, Mississippi, the son of Pat Lester (1913-2009), an accountant, and Mary Sue Thornton (1914-2009), a store manager. ^[3]

He was a graduate of Laurel High School and received a B.S. degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Southern Mississippi. After teaching school for awhile, he decided to live his dream and embarked for Hollywood to see if he could get a break as an actor.^[4]

After some theatre work, he auditioned for the role of Eb Dawson on Green Acres, beating out 400 other actors. According to what he said, he got the role because he was the only one who knew how to milk a cow. ^[4]

Green Acres, in which he co-starred with Eddy Alpert and Eva Gabor, made him a star. The show was a ratings hit. Tom appeared in every Green Acres show episode from 1965 to 1971.

After Green Acres, he continue to act, appearing in guests spots on a number of popular shows, including Little House on the Prairie, Marcus Welby, M.D. and Love American Style.^[5]

Tom was a born again Christian and traveled the United States as an evangelist.

At the time of his death, he was the last surviving cast member of Green Acres.

He died 20 April 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee at the home of his fiancée and long-term caregiver, Jackie Peters. He was 81. He was survived by his brother, two great-nieces, one great-great niece, and one great-great nephew. ^[6]Find A Grave: Memorial #209290433

Here's a wonderful clip of Tom from Green Acres, which can be found on YouTube here.^[7]

Census

Sources

1. ↑ Biography on IMDb.
2. ↑ Tom Lester on Wikipedia.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYGT-7SY : 28 February 2020), Thomas W Lester in household of Pat W Lester, Bay Springs, Beat 4, Jasper, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-8, sheet 14A, line 29, family 279, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2033.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Tom Lester Obituary on Variety.
5. ↑ Biography on IMDb.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/209290433/tom-lester: accessed 02 October 2023), memorial page for Tom Lester (23 Sep 1938–20 Apr 2020), citing Hickory Grove Cemetery, Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
7. ↑ Green Acres - Eb & The Flying Saucer From Season 2, Episode 25 - "The Saucer Season".
8. ↑ * "United States 1950 Census"
   citing Page: 4; Line: 21; Digital film/folder number: 108936419; Image number: 5
   FamilySearch Record: 6FMW-HSQN
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHN-PQHW-JV1K
   Thomas M Lester (11), single son, in household of Pat Lester (36 years) in Laurel, Jones, Mississippi, United States. Born in Mississippi.