This news has reached all corners of the nation, including a large number of sports news websites and even European news sources.

Closer to home here are some reactions from those who knew Coach Thomas...

“He always preached to be willing to look to one another for support. We will do that. We will move on.” --Jon Thompson, Aplington-Parkersburg Superintendent, gazetteonline.com

"Coach Thomas was very special to me and many other young men from the Aplington-Parkersburg communities. His legacy for many will be associated with his tremendous success as a football coach. However, I believe his greatest legacy comes not in how many football games he won or lost but in the fact that he was a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He lived his life trying to exemplify this faith and convey those values to those under his influence. His faith in Christ pervaded everything he did and that is why in the midst of the heartache we all feel there is comfort in knowing he is with his Savior." --Aaron Kampman, Green Bay Packers DE and former A-P football player, packers.com

I read one account that said Coach would pray with his players before every game. Doing so on public school property would be shunned, but he didn't care.

"In his more than 33 years as a coach and teacher in Parkersburg, Thomas taught teamwork and relying on the support and help of others . . . That ingrained attitude helped Parkersburg residents bounce back from the EF-5 tornado that destroyed about one-third of the town a little more than a year ago, and it will help them work through this latest tragedy." --Bob Haylock, Parkersburg Mayor, gazetteonline.com

"I’d sooner have another tornado than this." --Vinton Christopherson, neighbor to the football field named after Coach Thomas, gazetteonline.com

"Heaven just got a great football coach and an even better man." --Jared DeVries, Detroit Lions DE and former A-P football player, espn.com