Joe Thomas Awarded 2008 Wade Anderson Medal

On July 30, 2008, Joe Thomas of the Connecticut Department of Revenue was presented with the fifth annual Wade Anderson Memorial Medal for Leadership in Interstate Tax Cooperation. The Wade Anderson Medal is presented in alternating years at the annual meetings of the FTA and MTC to the individual who best exemplifies the commitment to interstate cooperation to promote fairness, simplicity, and consistency in state tax policy and administration.

During his more than 37 years working for the Connecticut Department of Revenue, Joe Thomas actively fostered interstate cooperation in the areas of tax policy and administration.  Joe served as Connecticut's representative to the MTC’s Uniformity and Nexus Committees since 1989.  In 1997, he became Chair of the Nexus Committee, and served for over 10 years in that role. Joe also served as Connecticut's representative to the Northeastern States Tax Officials Association (NESTOA) for at least 20 years.  In 2000, Joe was selected to act as Connecticut's representative to the national Streamlined Sales Tax Project. Joe Thomas worked tirelessly to make state tax administration fair, simple, and consistent. 

The Wade Anderson Memorial Medal for Leadership in Interstate Tax Cooperation was established by friends of Wade Anderson at the Texas Comptroller's office and at Vinson & Elkins law firm after Wade passed away unexpectedly in March 2003.   

Wade held many positions with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts over a 30-year career, including Associate Deputy Comptroller and General Counsel.  He was, at one time or another, a member of the Federation of Tax Administrators Board of Trustees and the Multistate Tax Commission Executive Committee. He was a founding member of the Border States Caucus of tax agencies in states along the U.S.-Mexico border and a long-time member of the board of the Western States Association of Tax Administrators.  

The award commemorates Wade Anderson’s tireless and creative efforts to promote interstate cooperation among tax agencies and between tax administrators and taxpayers.