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August 30, 2009 When Aplington-Parkersburg HS (Des Moines, Iowa) took the field against Dike-New Hartford Friday night in a nationally televised contest on ESPN, it was much more than just a football game. For 34-years Coach Ed Thomas had taught his young men how to deal with life. How to be strong, face adversity, and work within a framework of a team… His Aplington Falcons had won (4) State Championships, and currently boasts (4) current NFL players including the Detroit Lions own Jared DeVries. So when their town was devastated by a hurricane in the summer of 2008, all the lessons Coach Thomas taught, were put into play, with his football team leading the charge, restoring the life back to a broken community. And then on June 24, 2009, the unthinkable happened. On a routine summer morning, Coach Ed Thomas, inexplicably, was murdered in cold-blood, just before a team workout, leaving the entire community in shock and disbelief. Now more than ever, his teachings about toughness and intestinal fortitude would be on display from the young men and women he influenced as students and athletes for the better part of 4-decades. Friday night, former players lined the sidelines, donning their jerseys proudly, dating back to 1975. Amazing, people were upbeat, resilient and positive. That’s the way Coach Thomas would’ve wanted it. Faith, family, football, forever; that was his mantra. As a player, a journalist, and a fan, I’ve been observing HS football for 35-years, and I’ve never been so impressed. Aplington-Parkersburg may not be the #1 team in the nation, but I don’t think you’ll ever see a better ‘team’ if you know what I mean. They were crisp, disciplined and played to the whistle every snap. They built a 30-0 lead by the 3rd quarter and finished on top, 37-14. "We're trying to get back to normal," said Parkersburg resident Dennis Ihde, a neighbor and close friend of Thomas. "The tornado certainly affected everybody physically, emotionally. But losing Coach Thomas really hit us emotionally." And ironically, even though Coach Thomas was physically absent Friday, he was there in spirit and it showed. The lessons he’d espoused during his tenure, were evident, and on display for anybody that cares to pay attention. God Bless, Coach Ed Thomas. I never played for you, but I feel like I know you. Thought for the week: What lies behind you, and what lies ahead of you, are tiny matters, when you consider what lies inside of you. (c) 2009 Novi
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