[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 97 (Thursday, June 25, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H7255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING COACH ED THOMAS OF PARKERSBURG, IOWA

  (Mr. BRALEY of Iowa asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, a year ago, I stood in this well 
with a heavy heart and asked for a moment of silence for the Town of 
Parkersburg that was destroyed by an F5 tornado. The high school was 
destroyed, and the most visible face of the recovery in Parkersburg was 
legendary football coach Ed Thomas, whose home was destroyed in that 
tornado. Coach Thomas emerged from the rubble with tears in his eyes, 
pledged to rebuild the school, rebuild the community and help heal the 
sorrow.
  Ed and his wife, Jan, moved into an apartment above the True Value 
Hardware store in downtown Parkersburg. Ed went back to what he did 
best, working with young people and inspiring them to become better 
people.
  Yesterday morning, as Coach Thomas was at the school he loved working 
with young people, a lone gunman entered the school and shot and killed 
Ed Thomas in front of 20 to 30 high school students.
  Ed Thomas coached for 37 years. He had a career record of 292-84, 
including two State championships, 19 State playoff appearances, and, 
get this, in a town of 280 students in high school, four of his 
students played in the National Football League.
  Coach Thomas said, ``We don't talk about winning and losing. We talk 
about the little things. If we take care of the little things, the rest 
will take care of itself.''
  Mr. Speaker, I will be asking for everyone to give their thoughts and 
prayers to Ed's wife, Jan, their extended family and the community of 
Parkersburg as they struggle with this senseless loss.

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