Former Columbian outdoors writer, Camas native Allen Thomas dies

Allen Thomas, outdoor writer for The Columbian for four decades, died Thursday of leukemia. He was 73.

A 1975 graduate of the University of Washington, Thomas began at The Columbian as an intern in 1974, then left to do a joint internship for The Columbian and Longview Daily News covering the 1975 session of the Washington State Legislature.

Thomas returned to The Columbian in the spring of 1975 as a general assignment reporter. He then covered education and Vancouver city government until becoming the outdoor writer in June 1978.

Known to friends and colleagues by the nickname “Woodsy,” Thomas covered all manner of Northwest natural resource agencies including the Washington and Oregon departments of Fish and Wildlife; Gifford Pinchot National Forest; Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; Washington State Parks; National Marine Fisheries Service and the four Columbia River treaty tribes.

He loved most types of fishing, particularly the Buoy 10 salmon season in August at the coast and then following the fall chinook to catch them in the Vancouver and Camas areas. His other fishing passion was to chase after walleye in the mid-Columbia River.

He also enjoyed hunting pheasants and other upland game birds each October.

Thomas won four writing awards from the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association. His weekly Outdoors page in The Columbian also earned an honorable mention from the Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Thomas retired from The Columbian in August of 2017, although wrote for the paper as a freelancer until January 2025.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Sherrie (Blake), son Ryan, of Tualatin, Ore., and a sister, Pat Carlson, of Castle Rock. Other survivors include two grandsons and three stepchildren.

A memorial service is set for Saturday, Nov. 22, at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Camas. Time to be set.

The Columbian will publish an Outdoors tribute page in its Nov. 15 editions.