[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2279-E2280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO JOHN FRANKLIN THAMES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2011

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to pay tribute to a 
constituent who has dedicated his professional career to coaching high 
school basketball and--over the past half century--has developed 
generations of successful young women while breaking and setting 
winning records for women's basketball in South Carolina. I commend 
Coach John Franklin Thames for his 50 years of coaching women's 
basketball in the Palmetto State. It is very fitting that a scholarship 
for gifted athletes will be established in his honor at his alma mater, 
Manning High School.
  John Thames grew up in Alcolu, SC and graduated from Manning High 
School in 1953. At that time, America was at war with Korea. He spent 
six months as Executive Officer of Training Company at Fort Jackson, 
and served 13 months in Korea as an Army Tank Platoon Commander. 
Following his military service, he matriculated at Presbyterian College 
in Clinton, South Carolina, graduated in 1958, and returned home to 
serve his alma mater for the next half century.
  Over his 44-year career as the Lady Monarchs head coach, Coach 
Thames' teams amassed two State Championships, three State runner-ups, 
15 Regional Championships, and seven Regional Tournament Championships. 
He was named Region Coach of the Year 14 times and the Sumter Item Area 
Coach of the year three times. In 1969, he was selected as the Pee Dee 
North-South All-Star South head coach. He served as head coach in the 
South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association North-South Girls All-Star 
Game in 1984 and 2000. He was also one of two South Carolina coaches 
chosen to coach the South Carolina All-Star Girls against the North 
Carolina All-Star Girls at Winthrop University.
  Coach Thames was nominated in 1991-92 as the Converse High School 
Coach of the Year and the National High School Athletic Coaches 
Association Coach of the Year in women's basketball. That same year, he 
was named Florence Morning News Class AAA Girls Coach of the Year. He 
has been a South Carolina Coaches Association of Women Sports MVP 
Honoree, and a 2000 High School Sports Report State Coach of the Year 
in AAA Girls Basketball. He was a 2009 Inaugural Inductee into the 
South Carolina Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, and a 2011 Inaugural 
Inductee into the Clarendon County Athletic Hall of Fame.
  Coach Thames has also had great success in other sports. He served as 
the Manning High School baseball coach for 14 years and as an assistant 
football coach for 36 years.
  In 1993, his high school alma mater--and 50-year employer--named its 
gymnasium in his honor for ``his lifetime of contributions to Manning 
High School.'' Presbyterian College also honored their esteemed 
graduate by recognizing Coach Thames as the 2011 recipient of the Bob 
Waters Award. This honor was given for his outstanding leadership and 
service to society and the profession of athletic coaching and for 
personifying those values and qualities of excellence and integrity 
held dear by his college alma mater.
  Despite all the accolades he has accrued over his career, Coach 
Thames will be remembered most for his generosity and love of his 
players and all students. Since 2004, Coach Thames has conducted a free 
one-week basketball camp for girls. He is committed to ensuring that 
the inability to pay is not an obstacle for any girl to participate in 
the sport. For years, Coach Thames has used his personal funds to buy 
shoes for all of his players. He has done so because he doesn't want to 
single out the ones who cannot afford new shoes. He provides 
transportation and other clothing for many of his students who have 
limited resources. Coach Thames is also dedicated to helping students 
get into higher education institutions so they can pursue their dreams. 
``Coach,'' as he's lovingly known to everyone including non-athletes, 
is a mentor and father figure.
  In addition to his coaching accolades, Coach Thames has twice been 
named the Manning High School Teacher of the Year. He received the 2008 
Outstanding South Carolina Teacher of U.S. History by the Daughters of 
the American Revolution. He was inducted into the Kappa Alpha Order 
Court of Honor in 2009. Coach Thames is a recipient of the Silver 
Crescent, the highest civilian recognition awarded by the State of 
South Carolina for outstanding dedication to a local community, and has 
been inducted into the Clarendon County Education Hall of Fame. Coach

[[Page E2280]]

Thames is currently a member of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches 
Association, the South Carolina Women's Basketball Coaches Association, 
the Coaches of Women's Sports and the National Basketball Coaches 
Association.
  He is a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Manning, where he 
serves as a Junior Department Sunday School Teacher.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in congratulating Coach John 
Franklin Thames for his remarkable career at Manning High School. He 
has set a tremendous example both on and off the court. It is my honor 
to pay tribute to such a distinguished Southern gentleman who, I 
believe, has earned the gratitude of his community, his state and his 
nation.

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