Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas shot to death
Cedar Rapids Gazette
By Jeff Raasch and Orlan Love
The Gazette
jeff.raasch@gazettecommunications.com
orlan.love@gazettecommunications.com
Investigators work at the scene of a shooting at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, Iowa, Wednesday, June 24, 2009. The family of prominent central Iowa high school football coach Ed Thomas said that he died at a Waterloo hospital after being shot in the school's weight room Wednesday morning.
Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas has died after being shot multiple times among students at the school’s weight room this morning, officials have confirmed.
Thomas was shot at point blank range, including once in the head, according to the school's business manager Pat Gosch. No one else was injured in the incident.
The suspected gunman is in custody.
The family of Ed Thomas released a statement through Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo:
"The family of Ed Thomas would like the media to know that Ed passed away shortly after arriving at Covenant Medical Center," the statement read.
Sports secretary Sue Muller said Thomas was supervising the early-morning weightlifting in Parkersburg when the shooting happened around 8 a.m. About 30 students were present at the time.
“The kids are all safe and counselors are meeting with them at the elementary school," High School Principal Dave Meyer said.
Thomas was life-flighted to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo where he died.
An adult male believed to be the gunman was arrested after the incident was taken to the Butler County Jail in Allison. When asked if the man was a parent of a student, Butler County spokeswoman Holly Fokkena said, "not that I'm aware of, no."
"We do want to articulate, because I'm sure there are a lot of concerned parents, that no students were hurt or injured in this incident," said Jessica Lown, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
Counselors are on scene for students, including several who witnessed the shooting.
Thomas has coached football for 37 years and has a career record of 292-84. He has led the Falcons to 19 state playoff appearances and two state titles, in 1993 and 2001.
Aplington-Parkersburg Superintendent Jon Thompson said Thomas, who came to Parkersburg in 1975, was a widely beloved icon in the community.
Statement from Richard Wulkow, Executive Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association
"Like all tragedies, the taking of Coach Thomas’ life is senseless. At this time our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Aplington-Parkersburg community and the thousands of lives he so positively impacted. He embodied the essence of what a coach should be, and that legacy will endure.
"He will be forever remembered not so much for his many wins on the field, but for the exemplary manner in which he coached kids and led the Aplington-Parkersburg community and school. This was especially true last spring and summer as they rebuilt from a devastating tornado. He was overwhelmed with the ensuing gratitude from the efforts of the Iowa coaching community and others during the rebuilding."
Statement from Gov. Chet Culver
"It's just awful. My thoughts and prayers are for Coach Thomas and his family and the Parkersburg community. I know him well. I've been a real fan of his. As an old coach myself, he epitomizes what it means to be a high school football coach. He's just a legend. He's an incredible role model for the generations of kids in the Parkersburg area. He's someone that I really admire a great, great deal. He was instrumental in bringing Parkersburg back (after the 2008 tornado)."
Cedar Rapids Gazette
By Jeff Raasch and Orlan Love
The Gazette
jeff.raasch@gazettecommunications.com
orlan.love@gazettecommunications.com
Investigators work at the scene of a shooting at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, Iowa, Wednesday, June 24, 2009. The family of prominent central Iowa high school football coach Ed Thomas said that he died at a Waterloo hospital after being shot in the school's weight room Wednesday morning.
Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas has died after being shot multiple times among students at the school’s weight room this morning, officials have confirmed.
Thomas was shot at point blank range, including once in the head, according to the school's business manager Pat Gosch. No one else was injured in the incident.
The suspected gunman is in custody.
The family of Ed Thomas released a statement through Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo:
"The family of Ed Thomas would like the media to know that Ed passed away shortly after arriving at Covenant Medical Center," the statement read.
Sports secretary Sue Muller said Thomas was supervising the early-morning weightlifting in Parkersburg when the shooting happened around 8 a.m. About 30 students were present at the time.
“The kids are all safe and counselors are meeting with them at the elementary school," High School Principal Dave Meyer said.
Thomas was life-flighted to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo where he died.
An adult male believed to be the gunman was arrested after the incident was taken to the Butler County Jail in Allison. When asked if the man was a parent of a student, Butler County spokeswoman Holly Fokkena said, "not that I'm aware of, no."
"We do want to articulate, because I'm sure there are a lot of concerned parents, that no students were hurt or injured in this incident," said Jessica Lown, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
Counselors are on scene for students, including several who witnessed the shooting.
Thomas has coached football for 37 years and has a career record of 292-84. He has led the Falcons to 19 state playoff appearances and two state titles, in 1993 and 2001.
Aplington-Parkersburg Superintendent Jon Thompson said Thomas, who came to Parkersburg in 1975, was a widely beloved icon in the community.
Statement from Richard Wulkow, Executive Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association
"Like all tragedies, the taking of Coach Thomas’ life is senseless. At this time our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Aplington-Parkersburg community and the thousands of lives he so positively impacted. He embodied the essence of what a coach should be, and that legacy will endure.
"He will be forever remembered not so much for his many wins on the field, but for the exemplary manner in which he coached kids and led the Aplington-Parkersburg community and school. This was especially true last spring and summer as they rebuilt from a devastating tornado. He was overwhelmed with the ensuing gratitude from the efforts of the Iowa coaching community and others during the rebuilding."
Statement from Gov. Chet Culver
"It's just awful. My thoughts and prayers are for Coach Thomas and his family and the Parkersburg community. I know him well. I've been a real fan of his. As an old coach myself, he epitomizes what it means to be a high school football coach. He's just a legend. He's an incredible role model for the generations of kids in the Parkersburg area. He's someone that I really admire a great, great deal. He was instrumental in bringing Parkersburg back (after the 2008 tornado)."
