Iowa Almanac
Iowa Almanac -- Monday, June 24, 2024
succeeding as more than a coach. More from the Iowa Almanac in a moment. The 57 AAA is here. Sweet, smooth, and sassy. Your road trips will never be the same. When you're behind the wheel of an American legend, Camp Courageous is giving you the chance to win a 57 Chevy Bel Air Sportgoop. This is the car people turn their heads for. Get your raffle tickets now at Camp Courageous.org. Learn more and get your raffle tickets now for a chance to glide down the road in a classic 57 Chevy. Visit Camp Courageous.org. For 37 years, Ed Thomas was a high school football coach. His Applington-Parkersburg teams enjoyed remarkable success, including winning two state titles. In fact, no fewer than five of his players reached the NFL, and Ed Thomas himself was named the NFL High School Coach of the Year in 2005. He was a leader in Parkersburg, helping the community recover in the wake of a devastating tornado in 2008. On June 24th, 2009, Ed Thomas was at the school weight room supervising morning workouts for 20 football and volleyball players getting ready for the fall season. That's when a former player, Mark Becker, entered the weight room and shot Coach Thomas a half dozen times. Then, inflicted blunt force injuries by stomping on Thomas's head, chest, and legs. Ed Thomas was pronounced dead shortly after being airlifted to a hospital. Mark Becker had suffered mental issues. He thought the coach and his own parents were poisoning the minds of the town's young people and had to be stopped. He was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and convicted a first-degree murder less than nine months after the killing. The school's football field, the site of so many victories, is now named for Thomas and engraving on the wall there features one of his quotations. "If all I have taught you is how to block and tackle, then I have failed as a coach." Coach Ed Thomas was murdered while helping student athletes become their best on this date in 2009, 15 years ago today. And that's Iowa Almanac for June 24th. There's more online at IowaAlmanac.com. Until tomorrow, I'm Jeff Stein.