Troy Thomas and his family work their acre of land in Summerville, trying to live the most they can by what they grow and raise. Troy’s careers keep him at the fire department and on job sites on average of 75-80 hours per week, while his wife René runs the business aspect of their construction company. His favorite pastime is camping with his family at SC State Parks (Edisto Island being is their ultimate camping spot)!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I married my great friend from high school in Indiana– René. Our prayers were answered when our Daughter Anabelle Grace came into our lives in 2014. René is the busy one. She teaches homeschool to our daughter, tends to our 6,000sf garden, does the chores to our 50 plus laying chicken hens, and any spare moment she has she is canning vegetables from the gardens. Since COVID we really became self sufficient in our backyard. René has reduced our dependency on the grocery store; often, $50-$70 of groceries from the store lasts our family two weeks.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
My current full time job is Battalion Chief, C-Shift with the Mount Pleasant Fire Department. And on my days off from the fire department, I work full time building custom homes as a residential home builder.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Oscars for our special occasions and the Red Pepper
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
24 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Joe Stasiukaitis
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Australia has always intrigued me.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I enjoy following several homesteading channels via Youtube, such as Holis & Nancy Homestead.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Hard work cannot be learned; it must be lived.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
My wife and I traveling across the US with a travel trailer.
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Hillsong worship
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
James Dean Theatre & Guerin’s Pharmacy
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
District Chief Clyde Gordon– a great man who inspires me and pushes me to work and be better each shift at the fire department. We would enjoy lunch at Oscars.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The Christmas tree lighting at Town Square. It’s such an “at home experience.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
At 10 years I’m nearing retirement from the fire department and am about to begin some more traveling.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
That I absolutely love living off the land and growing our own food in our backyard.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Alaska
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
April, Christmas, and our daughter’s birthday
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Our daughter’s birthday
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife René
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Magnolia blooms and a freshly tilled garden
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, inspiration, and laughter
