Holmes was born in Wilmington, Massachusetts, where his father, John Thomas Holmes, was chairman of the Board of Selectmen.
Holmes' father died when Thomas was 10 years old.
Holmes graduated from Wilmington High School in 1941.
Holmes served as a naval pilot in the Pacific Theatre in World War II.
He went on to work for Ingersoll Rand for 30 years, eventually becoming CEO in 1980,[1] stepping down in 1988.