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UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
SOUTHERN'S THOMAS MOURNED: The Southern University Department of Athletics announced last week the passing of longtime track and field/cross-country coach, Johnny Thomas.
"Coach T", as he was called, succumbed after
battling cancer for the past two years.
Johnny L. Thomas Sr. was born in 1940 in Baton Rouge, LA, and graduated from McKinley Sr. High School in 1959. Thomas, a Southern alum, received his B.A. in 1963 and received his master's degree in 1973 from SU.
Thomas was his high school's record holder in the 100, 220 and 440 yard dashes, and upon his graduation from McKinley, earned a scholarship in track & field to Southern.
During his professional career, Thomas served the community as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor.
Thomas started his coaching career in 1978 as a volunteer coach that lasted until 1984. In 1987 he was named head track & field coach at SU. He moved the women's program through the transition from NAIA to AIAW and on to the NCAA in 1982.
Although the honors have been numerous, some of the more important honors include High School Coach of the Year, Louisiana Track Coach of the Year and SWAC Coach of the Year. Thomas amassed 45 SWAC Championships in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track & field for both the women's and men's programs.
Thomas was also the creator of the Track Club for Girls and later the Baton Rouge Express Track Club for ages 7-18. He is also the only African-American to win Louisiana State Singles Championship in Bowling in addition to publishing an article in Coaches Magazine on hurdling.
He was inducted into the Southern University Sports Hall of Fame and the Southwestern Athletic Conference Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
He is survived by his wife of many years, Lula, along with one son, Johnny Thomas, Jr. of Baton Rouge and his brother, Donald Thomas of Baton Rouge.
"Our program has suffered a great loss in the passing of Coach Johnny Thomas. He served this department in a first-class manner. He was also one of the most respected track coaches in the nation. His coaching style and the way he was able to get the very best out of his athletes was uncanny," said Greg LaFleur, Director of Athletics.
The funeral for Thomas will be held on Sat., June 20 at 11 a.m. at the Living Faith Christian Center in Baton Rouge, La.
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