Joe Thomas

Joseph’s parents, Giuseppe and Maria Travisano, were both born in Italy. (Their last name was changed to Thomas). They immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s where Joseph was born.  

Joseph’s family owned three lots at this Westwood Avenue location; homes owned by the Thomas family were:  

• 1455 Westwood Ave. built in 1914.

• 1459 Westwood Ave. built in 1903. ​

The family grew fruit trees, vegetables, and grapes on the extra land around their homes as most families did at the time to be self-sufficient.  

Joseph graduated from Grandview Heights High School (GHHS) in 1918, his graduating class included just six boys and seven girls. He helped choose the name for GHHS’s yearbook, the “Highlander”, a name which still stands today. He was inducted into the Grandview Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. 

Joseph married Cecelia Shirk in 1935; they had one daughter Jocelia in 1938. 

Joseph (b. 1899 - d. 1996) was a life-long golf enthusiast and professional:  

• First person to hold a caddy pin at Scioto Country Club in 1916.

• Head golf pro at Scioto Country Club from 1934 - 1938.

• Head golf pro at Arlington Golf Club and Brookside Golf & Country Club. 

• At the personal request of Columbus Mayor James Rhodes, found the land for and helped establish Raymond Memorial Golf Course in 1953, and served as pro until 1968.  

• Founding member of the American Italian Golf Association. 

Note: This stop is a private residences. Please respect the owners’ privacy and observe residence from public access points only.

Joseph’s GHHS senior photo; his senior quote was “Be a sport if you only last a minute”.

2014 Photo of Thomas’ family home at 1459 Westwood Ave.

Joseph (seated right) was selected Citizen of the Year by the American Italian Golf Association in 1975. Billy Martin (seated left), the New York Yankees manager, was speaker at the ceremony honoring Joseph.

Joseph Thomas in dashing argyle socks and plaid knickers at his favorite pastime in 1926.