AARON THOMAS
Aaron Thomas is a native of Parkersburg, Iowa and attended Aplington-Parkersburg High School where his legendary father Coach Ed Thomas coached football and taught. In high school he was an accomplished basketball player and continued his athletic career at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Aaron was a four-year letter winner for the Bulldogs and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary school education. After graduation he had a quick stint at St. Cloud State as a graduate assistant on the men’s basketball team before taking an education job at Union High School in Laporte City, Iowa.
In his time at Union High, Aaron served as Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, and Head Basketball. In this time, he also continued his education and received his master’s degree in Education Administration from Drake University.
Aaron’s life was upended in 2008 when a deadly EF-5 tornado destroyed much of his hometown of Parkersburg. His father Coach Thomas, an accomplished football coach, leader, and administrator for Aplington-Parkersburg led the recovery effort.
Coach Thomas lifted the spirits of the town and implored them to pick themselves up and rebuild. Little over a year after the tornado, as the Thomas family and the town of Parkersburg had begun to recover, another tragedy struck.
On June 24, 2009, Coach Thomas was murdered by a former student and football player who was dealing with mental health issues. The news of his death spread quickly, and the town was heartbroken to have lost one of their heroes.
Aaron was asked to return home to Parkersburg and follow in the footsteps of his father as not only a school leader, but an example for students to follow in life.
In the wake of the death, Aaron and his family held a press conference where they encouraged people to keep the family of the shooter in their thoughts and prayers as well. He pleaded with people to have compassion, understanding and forgiveness towards the family, because that is what his father Ed would have wanted. From Ed Thomas’ lifelong accomplishments and the Thomas family’s amazing story of forgiveness and strength through adversity, they were awarded the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2010 ESPY Awards.
From this tragedy Aaron cultivated a new passion and skill for public speaking. He has done hundreds of public speaking appearances to students, faculty, business, churches, and many other organizations. He shares his story of adversity, and what it means to work through adversity in the darkest of times. He challenges his listeners to make the best of their situation and take advantage of all opportunities in life. Aaron also preaches on the power we all have inside ourselves, and makes listeners reflect and improve on themselves.
Aaron is currently the principal and head men’s basketball coach at Aplington-Parkersburg high school. Much like his father Ed, his passion and inspiration have helped cultivate the next generation of young leaders in his community and across the country.
Aaron was a four-year letter winner for the Bulldogs and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary school education. After graduation he had a quick stint at St. Cloud State as a graduate assistant on the men’s basketball team before taking an education job at Union High School in Laporte City, Iowa.
In his time at Union High, Aaron served as Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, and Head Basketball. In this time, he also continued his education and received his master’s degree in Education Administration from Drake University.
Aaron’s life was upended in 2008 when a deadly EF-5 tornado destroyed much of his hometown of Parkersburg. His father Coach Thomas, an accomplished football coach, leader, and administrator for Aplington-Parkersburg led the recovery effort.
Coach Thomas lifted the spirits of the town and implored them to pick themselves up and rebuild. Little over a year after the tornado, as the Thomas family and the town of Parkersburg had begun to recover, another tragedy struck.
On June 24, 2009, Coach Thomas was murdered by a former student and football player who was dealing with mental health issues. The news of his death spread quickly, and the town was heartbroken to have lost one of their heroes.
Aaron was asked to return home to Parkersburg and follow in the footsteps of his father as not only a school leader, but an example for students to follow in life.
In the wake of the death, Aaron and his family held a press conference where they encouraged people to keep the family of the shooter in their thoughts and prayers as well. He pleaded with people to have compassion, understanding and forgiveness towards the family, because that is what his father Ed would have wanted. From Ed Thomas’ lifelong accomplishments and the Thomas family’s amazing story of forgiveness and strength through adversity, they were awarded the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2010 ESPY Awards.
From this tragedy Aaron cultivated a new passion and skill for public speaking. He has done hundreds of public speaking appearances to students, faculty, business, churches, and many other organizations. He shares his story of adversity, and what it means to work through adversity in the darkest of times. He challenges his listeners to make the best of their situation and take advantage of all opportunities in life. Aaron also preaches on the power we all have inside ourselves, and makes listeners reflect and improve on themselves.
Aaron is currently the principal and head men’s basketball coach at Aplington-Parkersburg high school. Much like his father Ed, his passion and inspiration have helped cultivate the next generation of young leaders in his community and across the country.
