Lyda Ann Thomas (née Quinn; November 20, 1936 – April 19, 2017) was an American politician and businesswoman.

The eldest child of Arthur William and Lyda Kempner Quinn, she attended The Hockaday School in Dallas.

[4] On September 20, 2005, during Hurricane Rita, Thomas declared a state of emergency and ordered an evacuation effective 6 PM the following day.

On August 4, 2008, when Tropical Storm Edouard came ashore, Thomas limited her statements to a warning.

Thomas ordered the full evacuation 9:30 AM on September 11, in a news conference with Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough.