The man who has guided Hamilton County through welfare reform is stepping down.

        Don Thomas, director of the county's Department of Human Services since 1987, will retire by Aug. 31 and relocate with his wife, Jennifer, to Florida where she will join the music faculty at University of Florida.

        Mr. Thomas, 52, said he will work as a human services consultant.

        “It has been my pleasure to serve the citizens of Hamilton County,” Mr. Thomas said. “It's probably time for a change here, for the agency and me.”

        Mr. Thomas said leading the county through the difficult transition to welfare reform — under which the poor are given three years to find work or have their benefits cut off — was among the achievements he is most proud of.

        The county's welfare rolls declined 69 percent from 1992 to 1999.

        “The way the community came together made a big difference in that task, which most of us thought would be highly unlikely, if not impossible, to achieve,” said Mr. Thomas, who has spent more than 30 years in public service.

        Mr. Thomas leaves the agency in one of its most difficult times. The department is looking at cutting up to $25 million in programs for the poor this year and has been in a hiring freeze since January.

        Hamilton County Administrator Dave Krings said he will look nationally for a replacement, who will be hired by Aug. 31.

        “Don Thomas has been a key player in the county efforts to assist our low-income residents, to protect our children and to reduce the cost to local taxpayers,” Mr. Krings said.

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