Hut Thomas

Reuben Hershel Thomas was born on October 30, 1922, to Jack and Maybell Thomas of Union Grove, Alabama. “Hut,” as he was affectionately called by all who knew him, went to Arab High School and graduated in 1942. He was an outstanding basketball player and would have gone on to play college basketball had it not been for World War II. Following graduation, Hut enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three years in France, Belgium, Austria, and Germany. During the Battle of the Bulge, Hut crawled through ice and snow to replenish ammunition for his company during the battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star for service and bravery in action.

At the end of the war, Hut signed with Jacksonville State Teachers College to play both basketball and baseball. In basketball, he was known for his free throw and perimeter shooting. He scored many goals from behind what would now be the three-point line and at one time held the JSU record for free throws. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952 and began his career of teaching and coaching at Sand Rock High School in Cherokee County. He coached both basketball and football at Sand Rock. After his first year at Sand Rock, Hut told people, “It took me just one season to find out that I wasn’t cut out to be a football coach.”

While in college and afterward, Hut also played independent baseball with the Guntersville Redbirds and basketball with the Western Auto Trojans of Guntersville. He was on the Redbird team that went to Kansas City to play in the national independent baseball tournament. The Trojans once played the All-American Redheads, an all girls team that toured the country at that time, to raise funds to build tennis courts in Guntersville. The 1946 Trojans were probably the best independent basketball team in Guntersville history, playing all of the strongest teams in North Alabama and ending the season with a 25-4 record, averaging 48.3 points per game.

Hut returned to Marshall County to coach and teach history at Claysville Junior High School after one year at Sand Rock. In 1953, Hut married Wanda York. He drove the Claysville bus in the morning and afternoon, taught history during the school day, and coached basketball for 20 years at Claysville. He also taught physical education for two years at the Hebron School before it closed and at Alabama Avenue Middle School in Albertville.

Hut may be best remembered by people all over Marshall County for the 35 years he served as a referee and umpire for countless football, basketball, softball, and baseball games. He called all levels from youth leagues through high school. Hut had a very good sense of humor and always seemed to be able to diffuse any situation that might happen on the court or field. Whether people agreed with his calls or not, everyone seemed to love Hut and appreciated his dedication to sports and youth.

After retiring from public education, Hut went to work for the City of Guntersville Recreation Department with his old friend and fellow referee, Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Moore. For over 20 years, Hut was a fixture at the Recreation Department. According to Recreation Director Bill Moore’s wife, Pam, “Hut never missed anything, whether he was working or not. It seemed that he lived and breathed for ballgames, whether he was coaching or refereeing.” Hut and his devoted wife, Wanda, spent countless hours working on the fields, coaching young players, selling items out of the concession stand, and calling games. For his tireless devotion to the youth of the Guntersville area, a new gymnasium at the recreation center in Guntersville was named “The Hut Thomas Gymnasium” in his honor in 1978. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation for his service to the community from Mayor Bob Hembree in 1984.

Hut and Wanda have five children, Jackie Walker, Deborah Thomas O’Donnell, Randy Thomas, Susan Thomas, and John H. (J.T.) Thomas, 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Reuben Hershel “Hut” Thomas passed away on February 2, 1998, at the age of 75. His service to thousands of youth in Marshall County will never be forgotten.