Thomas B. Elder was born July 27, 1902, at Elders Ridge, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

He enlisted with the State Highway Patrol from Indiana on February 25, 1929, and was assigned to Troop B, Greensburg. He was 26 years old and 5' 11½" tall.

At 4:05 a.m. on January 4, 1930, while on patrol on Route 119, near the Scottdale Road, Connellsville, Fayette County, Elder was struck by a drunk driver, Edward O. Conway, of Pursegrove, West Virginia. He was thrown from his motorcycle, and suffered serious injuries. He was taken to the Connellsville Hospital and later transferred to the Indiana Hospital. He died of his injuries and complications at 7:00 p.m. on March 22, 1931, over a year later.

He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Indiana. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Margaret W. Elder, of Elders Ridge. Elder, 28, was a member of the State Highway Patrol for two years.