Southern University coach Johnny Thomas dies
Posted Wednesday, 17 June, 2009
Longtime Southern University men's and women's track and cross country coach Johnny Thomas, who amassed 45 SWAC Championships during his career, succumbed from a two-year battle with prostate cancer on Friday, June 12.
Born in 1940 in Baton Rouge, La., and graduated from McKinley Sr. High School in 1959, Thomas, a Southern University alum, received his B.A. in 1963 and received his masters degree in 1973 from SU.
Thomas was his high school's record holder in the 100, 220 and 440 yard dashes, and upon his graduation from McKinley, earned a scholarship in track & field to Southern University.Thomas started his coaching career in 1978 as a volunteer coach that lasted until 1984. In 1987 he was named head track & field coach at SU. He moved the women's program through the transition from NAIA to AIAW and on to the NCAA in 1982.
Thomas was also the creator of the Track Club for Girls and later the Baton Rouge Express Track Club for ages 7-18. He is also the only African-American to win Louisiana State Singles Championship in Bowling, in addition to publishing an article in Coaches Magazine on hurdling.
Thomas was inducted into the Southern University Sports Hall of Fame and the Southwestern Athletic Conference Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
He is survived by his wife of many years, Lula, along with one son, Johnny Thomas, Jr. of Baton Rouge and his brother, Donald Thomas of Baton Rouge.
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