Wrestling honor

Bruce Thomas was a great wrestler at Southeast Missouri State University, the only one in the history of the old Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association to complete four years without a conference loss. He also was a great wrestling coach, guiding Jackson High School teams to a 105-10-3 record in dual matches from 1982 through 1995. That record included a winning streak of 52 matches in a row. Thomas also has contributed much time to the sport he loves as a wrestling official.

In March, Thomas was inducted into the Missouri State Wrestling Hall of Fame. Later this month he will become a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Thomas' devotion to the sport will be recognized with a Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the Missouri chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He will become the only member of the hall acknowledged for his contributions as a wrestler, coach and official.

A gifted athlete rarely also succeeds as a coach. To contribute as well to the lives of young athletes through the thankless job of officiating sets Thomas apart.