David Thomas

David Thomas

  • Year Inducted : 2009
  • Sport : Football

About Inductee

Biography

David Thomas was born May 20, 1941, in Huntsville, Alabama, and was educated in the Huntsville City Schools. He began playing baseball at the age of 12 in the Huntsville Little League Program and also played basketball and football at the McCormick Branch YMCA under coaches Bill Childress, Sr. and Buttermilk Johnson. At Butler High School, David played end on the football team, forward on the basketball team and was an outfielder on the baseball team from 1956 to 1959. After graduating from Butler, David signed a football scholarship with legendary coach Hal Self, at Florence State. He went on to earn three letters playing end on the football team from 1960 to 1963. During Davids college years, a player had to play both offense and defense. In one game against Northwestern Louisiana, Thomas caught five passes and made nine individual tackles. In the 1963 season, he was the Lions leading receiver and a very rugged defensive end; he was also selected at the end of the season to be one of the permanent Co-Captains. After graduation, David was hired by Principal Fulton Hamilton and Coach Bill Godsey as an assistant coach at Lee High School where he stayed for two years. He returned to Florence to pursue a Masters degree at Florence State and coach football at Bradshaw High School and basketball and track at Forest Hill Middle School. In 1977, David made a career change and became a State Farm Insurance agent in Florence. He enjoyed a successful career with State Farm and retired in 2002. David said, I had many coaches impact my life from Little League through Florence State. They taught me the skills needed to play all sports; however, the person with the greatest impact on my life was my mother, Thelma Thomas. My father died when I was nine and my mom had to work to support our family. She would work all day and go to business school at night. She was successful in business school and worked as a secretary until she retired. She taught me the value of hard work, determination and sacrifice. Another great influence of my life has been my wife of 46 years, Jo Ann Smith Thomas. She encouraged me to finish my degree from Florence State, and has been my best friend through the years. David and Jo Ann live in Florence and have one daughter, one son and four grandchildren.

Related Players

1996

Keith Butler

Football
2000

Brooks Gentle

Football
1994

Dave Beck

Football
1996

Wildon Bennett

Football
1996

Ben Berry

Football
2002

Walter Bishop

Football
2004
1997

Thomas Boyd

Football
1996

Max Burleson

Football
1999
1989

Phil Chaffin

Football
2001

David Sington

Football
2004
1989

Louis Crews

Football
2000

Don Crutcher

Football
2000

Franky Smith

Football
2002
1992

John Stallworth

Football
1996

Bobby Davis

Football
1997

John W. Day

Football
2008

Michael Wilbourn

Football
1990

Vaughn Stewart

Football
1989
1990
2010

Patrick Wynn

Football
2012

David Grayson

Football
1990
2004

Ray Greene

Football
1992

Clem Gryska

Football
1992

Wayne Hall

Football
2003

Dr. Randy Hall

Football
1994
1996

Steve Wilson

Football
1996
1994

Mike Hopper

Football
1992
1989

Onree Jackson

Football
1997
1989

Adam Kellum

Football
2001

Max Kelly

Football
1996

Keith Wilson

Football
1996
1989

Bobby Luna

Football
2003
1990
1989

John Meadows

Football
1999
2000

Ed Mitchell

Football
1989

Billy Neighbors

Football
1999

Wes Neighbors

Football
1989

Benny Nelson

Football
1990

Glen Nunley

Football
2002

Greg Patterson

Football
1996

Paul Parvin

Football
2001

Wendall Payne

Football
2001

Phillip Pickett

Football
2000

Larrie Robinson

Football
1989

Billy Joe Rowan

Football
2002

Billy Shepard

Football
1990

Sam Sullins, Jr.

Football
1996

Buck Watson

Football
1989

Pete Williams

Football
2005

Carl McCulley

Football
2005

James Buttram

Football
2005

Rod Brooks

Football
2005

Scott McRae

Football
2006

Bill Wieseman

Football
2006

Mike Adcock

Football
2006

Ralph Malone

Football
2006

Gary Otten

Football
2008

Howard Cross

Football
2007

Don Smith

Football
2007

Hardy Walker

Football
2007

Reggie Ware

Football
2008

Keith Henderson

Football
2008

Gregg Lowery

Football
2008

Robert Malone

Football
2009

Bo Emerson

Football
2009

Everett Crawford

Football
2009

Rolo Weaver

Football
2010

Allen Paseur

Football
2010
2010

Tim Stowers

Football
2010

Dr. John Walters

Football
2011

Tom Johnson

Football
2012

Cedric Brownlee

Football
2012

Chris Anderson

Football
2011
2011
2012

Anthony Perry

Football
2012

Steve Cash

Football
2012

Ralph Battle

Football
2003
2004

Bruce Thompson

Football
2005

Ricky Moore

Football
2005

Robby Rowan

Football
2006

Foster Christy

Football
2007

Willard Scissum

Football
2008

Jeff Smith

Football