Tommy Thomas

(Class of 1980)

“Wind ‘Em Tommy” was the battle cry from parents in the stands during the magical 1979 football season when Quarterback Tommy Thomas led the Wheeling Central Catholic High School to its first ever West Virginia Class AA state championship as a member of the State Secondary School Activities Commission. The 12-1 record Maroon Knights finished off the year with a victory over Buffalo Wayne in the title game played at Charleston’s Laidley Field. The first two rounds saw Central Catholic collect home field wins over Poca and Big Creek at Wheeling Island Stadium. Coach of that remarkable state championship team was his brother the late Jim Thomas, a member of the inaugural WCHS Hall of Fame Class in 2016.

  Tommy Thomas’s career stats had him throwing for over 3,000 combined yards and 35 touchdowns, including a brilliant senior season, passing for 1,220 yards and 12 touchdowns, rushing for 580 yards and six TDs while also recording six interceptions from his safety position on defense. Named to the WV Class AA all-state team after both his junior and senior campaigns, Thomas was also named one of the all-state team captains in 1979. He  was an all-Valley Big School honoree and captain of that year’s all-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference honor team. He was third in the voting by the statewide sports writers for the prestigious Kennedy Award, given annually to the best high school player in West Virginia. In addition to playing football, Thomas lettered three years in basketball and two years in baseball.

  After playing in the annual Rudy Mumley Charity Ohio-West Virginia All-Star Football Game, Thomas continued his athletic career and academic studies at West Liberty State (now University). Twice he was selected by his teammates as the Hilltoppers most valuable player. The 1984 West Liberty graduate earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a 3.6 GPA. The Belle Vernon, PA resident has had a 30-year career with State Farm Insurance.