Maxwell Raymond Thomas was born in Launceston on 28 June 1921. Before moving into officiating, he played nineteen first-class matches for Tasmania between 1945 and 1957. As a left-handed batsman and right-arm bowler, he scored 955 runs at an average of 28.08, hitting two centuries and three fifties with a top score of 164. He also took seven wickets at an average of 23.42, including one five-wicket haul of 5 for 54.
Thomas started his first-class playing career in January 1946 against the Australian Services XI. He became the first Tasmanian to score a century on first-class debut by finishing that innings on 164. Later in his playing career during the 1953 to 1954 season, he faced Victoria in two matches, scoring 136 runs over 368 minutes in Hobart and 86 runs over 233 minutes in Launceston.
Away from the cricket pitch, Thomas worked as a secondary school teacher of manual arts. He initially taught in Launceston before relocating to Hobart in the late 1950s. After settling in Hobart, he transitioned into umpiring and stood in five first-class matches in Tasmania between 1966 and 1971.