William 'Bill' Owen Thomas (27 April 1921 – 8 August 2000) was an English first-class cricketer and educator. Thomas was born at Middlesbrough in April 1921. He was educated at Dulwich College, before serving in the Second World War, being commissioned into the Green Howards as a second lieutenant in March 1941. Following the war, he went up to the University of Cambridge. While studying at Cambridge, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Cambridge University against the Free Foresters at Fenner's in 1948. He made two further first-class appearances for Cambridge, both in 1948, against Hampshire and Sussex. He took 3 wickets for Cambridge with his slow left-arm orthodox bowling. After graduating from Cambridge he became a schoolteacher. While teaching at Gresham's School, he played