Leonard “Rabbit” Thomas
Class of 1999
Leonard “Rabbit” Thomas built a reputation as one of the most dynamic football players to emerge from Huntsville during the 1960s. Known for his speed and playmaking ability, Thomas excelled both in high school and at the collegiate level.
Thomas began his high school career at William H. Councill High School, where he earned All-City honors in football in 1965. He later transferred to Butler High School, where his football career flourished. During the 1966 and 1967 seasons, Thomas earned All-City, All-North Central Conference and All-State honors while establishing himself as one of the most explosive offensive players in the region.
After graduating from Butler, Thomas signed a football scholarship with Florence State University. At Florence State he continued to distinguish himself as a running back. In 1969 he was named the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Back and earned a spot on the Mid-South Conference team. His outstanding play continued the following season when he again earned Mid-South Conference honors.
Thomas’ senior year brought even greater recognition. His performance on the field earned him selection as a Little All-American, placing him among the nation’s top small-college players.
Despite his impressive accomplishments, Thomas has often credited the people who helped shape his life and career. Among those he recognized were mentors such as Marion Blackburn, Marion Tibbs, Condredge Holloway Sr., Adam Kellum and coach John Meadows.
In 1996 Thomas’ collegiate achievements were honored with his induction into the University of North Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame.
Thomas later made his home in Huntsville, where he lives with his wife and family.
This content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model, based on original stories written the year of the honoree's induction by Board members and other contributors. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided may not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. Please contact the Hall of Fame with corrections.
