Abilene People: Bird Thomas

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Burgess “Bird” Thomas joins us on Abilene People. How do you capture someone as dynamic as Bird? She has been a museum curator, artist, interior designer, and world traveler, and in her University of Texas at Austin days, a self-described hippie. Long before “influencer” became a cultural buzzword, Bird was already living it—shaping spaces, experiences, and people’s perspectives with her boundless energy. Our wide-ranging conversation spans the globe but always returns to Abilene, where Bird encourages us all to embrace life and, above all, to have fun. She laments how fun has faded from today’s world, recalling her own “feral youth” as a time of freedom, discovery, and joy. Bird’s stories sparkle with adventure. She explains why Norway is her favorite country, describing a culture that prizes collaboration over competition. She remembers eating raw horse meat in Hungary—an unexpected experience for a lifelong horse lover—yet her eyes still light up at the memory. She also shares her impressions of Cuba, where she witnessed firsthand the disappointment of people who had once placed their hopes in Castro and communism.

Her reflections are not just about travel but about values. Bird speaks of the importance of treating women with dignity, fostering harmony among races and cultures, and recognizing that life is about more than making money—it’s about living it fully. Perhaps most strikingly, Bird recalls being a fourth grader during the Cuban Missile Crisis. At College Heights Elementary, her teacher hushed the room of nine-year-olds and told them to pray because “the missiles are pointed here.” That childhood moment of fear still echoes in her memory. Lively, insightful, and deeply human, Bird Thomas reminds us what it means to live boldly and thoughtfully in a complicated world.