Gerald Thomas

Gerald Thomas, Boaz halfback, was All-County and Honorable Mention All-State. He earned All-Region in basketball. The entire Pirate athletic program benefited from Thomas’ three years each of football, basketball, baseball and one year of track.

Thomas played defensive back and wide receiver for Tennessee Tech University from 1966-70. He boxed Golden Gloves for the Cookeville, Tenn., Rotary Club and East Brainerd Boxing Club, advancing to the Southern Championship in Knoxville, Tenn. Thomas was the City of Chattanooga finalist and a Southern Golden Gloves semi-finalist in 1970.

His high school coach, Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame member Billy Hudson, gave Thomas his first job out of college as assistant varsity football and junior high basketball coach at Muscle Shoals. His career as a teacher and coach has continued from 1970 until the present. He served as head football coach and athletic director of the Douglas Eagles from 1971-76 with a 16-33-1 record.

Boaz brought Thomas home in 1976. He served as assistant coach in football 12 years and head coach in track eight years, girls softball four years and girls basketball 12 years. Thomas led the Lady Pirate basketball teams to 207 wins and 97 losses.

As an athlete/coach, Gerald Thomas and Hall of Fame member “Shorty” Ogle are two of the most versatile ever selected to the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame. He is a Level Three baseball umpire and Level Two softball umpire with the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Thomas resides in Boaz and is a member and qualified speaker for Gideons International.