Born in Huntington in 1896, Douglas C. Tomkies earned an A.B. degree from West Virginia University in 1921 and his law degree from Yale University Law School in 1924.
Tomkies first practiced with the Huntington law firm of Warth and Peyton and later with the firm of Livezey and McNeer. In 1927, he and his brother, Frank H. Tomkies, organized a new law firm all their own.
Long active in Democratic politics, he was the Cabell County Democratic Chairman in 1938. He served as mayor from 1947 until 1948. After completing his term, he returned to his private law practice.
Active in business, he was president of the Cabell Federal Savings and Loan Association, a director of Guaranty National Bank and president of Security Insurance Co.
At the time of his death in 1974, he was past president of the Stella Fuller Settlement and chairman of the reunion committee of the Yale University Law School Class of 1974.
