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October 7, 2008

CARDINAL HALL OF FAME: Ron Thomas

Special to the Review

The first class of the Cardinal Hall of Fame at Trinity Valley Community College is scheduled to be inducted Saturday, at an 11:30 a.m. luncheon in the Student Union Ballroom. Today’s featured profile of a member of the class is Ron Thomas (men’s basketball):

It has been more than 30 years since the American Basketball Association went defunct. The league only existed for nine years, from 1967 until 1976. But for the last four years of the league, Ron Thomas was a force on the Kentucky Colonels.

Thomas was a powerhouse player on the Henderson County Junior College (now Trinity Valley Community College) Cardinals basketball team from 1968-1970.

“Coach (Leon) Spencer he stayed on me for awhile to come to Texas. I had a teammate who played with me in high school. Coach Spencer offered both of us a scholarship, so we went on the buddy plan,” said Thomas.

By the time he left HCJC, Thomas would hold four college records. Those records still stand today:

• Career Scoring: 1,439 pts. (62 games)

• Rebounds in a game: 41 vs. Baylor frosh in 1970

• Rebounds in a season: 741 in 1969-70

• Rebounds in career: 1,222

Thomas led the nation in rebounding his sophomore year at HCJC. While he wore the red and white, the Cardinals won a conference championship one year and came in second the other. The team had a 52-10 record during his time on the team.

“I’m excited,” said Thomas about being named to the Cardinal Hall of Fame. Thomas said he hasn’t been back to Athens since leaving college.

After leaving Athens, Thomas went back to his home state of Kentucky, attending University of Louisville. He played for two years, and then was drafted into the ABA by Memphis.

But he would never play for that team.

“Memphis had about 14 or 15 guys with a no cut contract. I didn’t have a no-cut contract,” said Thomas.

A few weeks after being released by Memphis, he was picked up by the Kentucky Colonels and played his whole four-year career for that team.

In 1976, the ABA lost the competition with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the league disbanded.

Today, Thomas lives in Louisville and helps run his family’s business. His business, a moving company, has been in business for more than 50 years.

He is the father of four children ages 28 to 38. Two of his four children have doctoral degrees, said Thomas, a fact of which he is very proud.

One of his sons played college basketball as well.

“Watching my son play for North Texas has been one of the highlights of my life,” said Thomas.

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