Melvin Thom (born July 28, 1938) was born on theWalker River Paiute reservation inSchurz, Nevada.[1] A leader in the movement forNative American civil rights, Thom was one of the founders of theNational Indian Youth Council in the 1960s.[2]
Thom graduated from Lyon County High School inYerington, Nevada and then studied civil engineering atBrigham Young University. At BYU, he was President of the Tribe of Many Feathers Club for three years and also President of the Southwest Regional Indian Youth Council.[1]