![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VLNTPFSP3ZD7NFOZ3YKDMJQNXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=160704b05077db60cbb677201fa0fe71da4cf218b8e6e428830fb303fe5b8024&width=400&height=225)
The Patient Care Centre on the campus of St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Photo: stjude.org
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L5YN3UJUFZCFZOKIOORC2YHMVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d53d474e15923ce6fdb46b6fc7d8872e4e7dae81144baf5bd4122a015a8efd3f&width=400&height=225)
St Jude Children's Research Hospital founder Danny Thomas stands outside the world-renowned paediatric cancer facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo: arabamericanmuseum.org
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZP5YDUYX4NGQLD46VEEJS542NE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7e6ac5eaa4e2629f7d82d2767c083435222f7c669a9c2f400321ee453061d28&width=400&height=225)
Danny Thomas stands next to a statue of St Jude Thaddeus, patron saint of hopeless causes in Catholicism
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSESLXIFKJC2HFGPPMPB6HFG44.jpg?smart=true&auth=f28e186304972eb2be3d7b130351aca82b674638dc58fb1190593beddcd5db07&width=400&height=225)
Danny Thomas and Loretta Young hold their "Emmy" Awards at the Moulin Rouge restaurant in Hollywood after they were honored at the Seventh Annual Awards Dinner of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Thomas was named "Best Actor starring in a regular series" Make Room for Daddy, and Miss Young won the "Best Actress" award in the same category The Loretta Young Show. (Photo by Bettmann/CORBIS/Bettmann Archive)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NVKMZZ6XYRHLHOWEO2JF3LAV3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e4e5d13febf58e674e8ea690d82a90874ff834eb78a35da0c1508ed95fbd4fa&width=400&height=225)
Elvis Presley (right) turns over the papers for the SS Potomac, former presidential yacht of the late President Franklin D Roosevelt, to Thomas. Photo: Bettmann Archive
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WGDOX36MCNE23O5SZNJ5JCMOVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=181108183ee9800b2d3eaa24c6003878ff85dc545c87b105ab7921849700b7e4&width=400&height=225)
Thomas with Betty Dawood of Detroit at an early Alsac convention, circa early 1960s. Photo: Photo: Megan Phelps/St Jude Childrens Research Hospital-ALSAC
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AIC3EZOVSJG7FORNLORZWME22E.jpg?smart=true&auth=843e8a9bf48b3912f22d5aee3e9ca74e6e0e3201421f735e14943433fb24ec64&width=400&height=225)
Singer Josh Groban (centre) at St Jude Children's Research Hospital Shower of Stars 40th Anniversary - Hospital Tour on April 26, 2003. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X3BJD5YTT5DFHG25JJOI6HJRKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c43c665896a8645672a833ee6e446f1c5b493dca432307882f6d739c67fb87c8&width=400&height=225)
The Danny Thomas/Alsac Pavilion. Photo: stjude.org
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VLNTPFSP3ZD7NFOZ3YKDMJQNXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=160704b05077db60cbb677201fa0fe71da4cf218b8e6e428830fb303fe5b8024&width=400&height=225)
The Patient Care Centre on the campus of St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Photo: stjude.org
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L5YN3UJUFZCFZOKIOORC2YHMVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d53d474e15923ce6fdb46b6fc7d8872e4e7dae81144baf5bd4122a015a8efd3f&width=400&height=225)
St Jude Children's Research Hospital founder Danny Thomas stands outside the world-renowned paediatric cancer facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo: arabamericanmuseum.org
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZP5YDUYX4NGQLD46VEEJS542NE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7e6ac5eaa4e2629f7d82d2767c083435222f7c669a9c2f400321ee453061d28&width=400&height=225)
Danny Thomas stands next to a statue of St Jude Thaddeus, patron saint of hopeless causes in Catholicism
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSESLXIFKJC2HFGPPMPB6HFG44.jpg?smart=true&auth=f28e186304972eb2be3d7b130351aca82b674638dc58fb1190593beddcd5db07&width=400&height=225)
Danny Thomas and Loretta Young hold their "Emmy" Awards at the Moulin Rouge restaurant in Hollywood after they were honored at the Seventh Annual Awards Dinner of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Thomas was named "Best Actor starring in a regular series" Make Room for Daddy, and Miss Young won the "Best Actress" award in the same category The Loretta Young Show. (Photo by Bettmann/CORBIS/Bettmann Archive)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NVKMZZ6XYRHLHOWEO2JF3LAV3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e4e5d13febf58e674e8ea690d82a90874ff834eb78a35da0c1508ed95fbd4fa&width=400&height=225)
Elvis Presley (right) turns over the papers for the SS Potomac, former presidential yacht of the late President Franklin D Roosevelt, to Thomas. Photo: Bettmann Archive
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WGDOX36MCNE23O5SZNJ5JCMOVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=181108183ee9800b2d3eaa24c6003878ff85dc545c87b105ab7921849700b7e4&width=400&height=225)
Thomas with Betty Dawood of Detroit at an early Alsac convention, circa early 1960s. Photo: Photo: Megan Phelps/St Jude Childrens Research Hospital-ALSAC
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AIC3EZOVSJG7FORNLORZWME22E.jpg?smart=true&auth=843e8a9bf48b3912f22d5aee3e9ca74e6e0e3201421f735e14943433fb24ec64&width=400&height=225)
Singer Josh Groban (centre) at St Jude Children's Research Hospital Shower of Stars 40th Anniversary - Hospital Tour on April 26, 2003. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X3BJD5YTT5DFHG25JJOI6HJRKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c43c665896a8645672a833ee6e446f1c5b493dca432307882f6d739c67fb87c8&width=400&height=225)
The Danny Thomas/Alsac Pavilion. Photo: stjude.org
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VLNTPFSP3ZD7NFOZ3YKDMJQNXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=160704b05077db60cbb677201fa0fe71da4cf218b8e6e428830fb303fe5b8024&width=400&height=225)
The Patient Care Centre on the campus of St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Photo: stjude.org