Thomas Austin Finch held leadership roles in multiple financial institutions and industry organizations, including the First National Bank of Thomasville, the Southern Furniture Manufacturers Association, and the American Furniture Mart. In public service, he served as mayor of Thomasville, chaired various civic boards, and participated in state councils focused on education and employment.
During the Great Depression, Finch advised President Franklin D. Roosevelt on national economic issues, serving on the Industrial Advisory Board and later the War Production Board. A lifelong Democrat, Finch was active in both local and national affairs.
In 1919, Finch married Ernestine Lambeth, and they had one son, Thomas Austin Finch Jr., who later succeeded him in business leadership. After Finch’s death, his family established the Thomas Austin Finch Foundation, which supported numerous community projects, including a chapel, hospital rooms, and the Thomasville Public Library. Finch is buried in the Thomasville City Cemetery.
