Richard B. Thomas; Time Publisher Helped Launch People Magazine

Richard B. Thomas, 69, a former Time magazine publisher who helped develop People magazine. Born in Middletown, Conn., Thomas graduated from Dartmouth College, served two years in the Marines and then went to work for Time. He spent 31 years with the company, rising from advertising director of Money magazine to publisher of Time, the post from which he retired in 1988. In the mid-1970s, he helped launch People as its advertising director. Now highly successful, the personality magazine was initially considered risky for Time Inc., which had a reputation for more serious publications including Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. On Thursday in Old Greenwich, Conn., of cancer.