(MARSHALL, Texas) – After leaving Texas State Technical College for a career in the oilfield, Lewis Thomas has returned to the Marshall campus two decades later to pursue an associate degree in Precision Machining Technology.
“I left TSTC because I saw dollar signs in the oilfield; it was booming back then,” the Marshall native said. “I had my first son and almost missed his birth because I was in West Texas. I had my second son and I missed his first steps. That was a reality check, like, ‘I’m missing key moments in my kids’ lives, I’ve got to get out of here.’”
Thomas said one of his favorite things in the past about TSTC was how much time the instructors could dedicate to each student given the smaller class sizes. He was happy to see that had not changed when he returned.
“The rewarding part is that, when you make a mistake, the instructor can actually sit there and break down why you made that mistake and either show you how to correct it or work it in for the next time that you recreate that part,” Thomas said.
Steven Williamson is one of Thomas’s Precision Machining Technology instructors.
“Lewis is a very motivated student with the potential to become a highly skilled machinist,” Williamson said.
Thomas’s ultimate goal is to find a career that will allow him time with his family.
“Professional wise, I want to have a base set for my own business in five years,” Thomas said. “I’m really big into gunsmithing, so I want to be able to make barrels later on as a retirement job; I’m not looking to sit there and get rich off of it, it’s just something I like to do.”
Thomas plans to graduate in December from the Marshall campus. He said his eldest son has expressed interest in studying either Precision Machining Technology or Robotics and Industrial Controls at TSTC in the future.
“TSTC as a whole is a starting point for someone’s career,” Thomas said. “If you’re actually serious about starting something, it’s a good foothold.”
Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.