Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....THOMAS, CHARLES F.  January 22, 2012
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Gina Brown rootsgirl36@gmail.com November 12, 2012, 2:33 am

News Star World - January 23, 2012
CHARLES F. THOMAS

Dr. Charles F. Thomas, known to friends, former students and ball players 
as "Coach" or "Red", died on January 22, 2012, at home in Natchitoches after a 
long battle with the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Betty French Thomas, and 
his sisters, Josie Cullins and Doris Stephens.

Dr. Thomas lived a very full and active life as educator, coach and athlete 
but, most especially, as a loving husband and parent. He was 93 years old at 
the time of his death.

Thomas is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Sadie Grezaffi of 
Batchelor, La; his sister Patty Sue Moore of Hope, Arkansas; nine children, 
Chuck Thomas and Pat, Elizabeth Walsh and Dan, Tina Stroud and Gilbert, Luke 
Thomas and Beth, Tim Thomas and Vicky, Mary Pracchia and John, Doris Stockwell 
and C.L., Nancy Teegardin and Joe, and Mike Thomas and Tammy; twenty-three 
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren as well as a very close and special 
person, Patsy A. Thomas.

Thomas grew up in Texarkana, Arkansas, where he was a talented student-
athlete. Subsequently, beginning in 1940, Thomas was a student, coach, 
professor and administrator at Northwestern State University. While a student, 
Thomas was on the track and field team but excelled as a standout basketball 
player and was the school's first basketball All-American. He was selected to 
the Helms Hall of Fame in basketball in 1957 and was named to the Louisiana 
Sports Hall of Fame in 1968.

After graduation Thomas served in the United States Navy from 1941-1945, and 
returned to Louisiana after World War II. He coached basketball and football 
at Bastrop High School from 1945 to 1950 and became an assistant professor and 
head basketball coach at Northwestern in 1950. He led the Demons to two 
conference championships in seven years and never experienced a losing season. 
Thomas left coaching to complete his doctorate in education and entered the 
classroom fulltime in 1957 as an associate professor.

From 1961-62 Dr. Thomas served as the state supervisor for health and physical 
education in the Louisiana State Department of Education before returning to 
NSU in 1963 as a full professor. He became the head of the Department of HPE&R 
in 1964, the Dean of Administration in 1966 and the Dean of the College in 
1967. In 1968 he assumed the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs, a 
position he held until his retirement from NSU in 1978. After retiring from 
Northwestern, Thomas held teaching positions at the University of North Texas 
and Tulane University. He was named to the NSU Hall of Distinction, the Long 
Purple Line, in 1993 and the Hall of Distinguished Educators by the NSU 
College of Education in 2007.

"Coach" Thomas remained active and sought adventure throughout his life, 
including his retirement. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for 
the Exchange Bank in Natchitoches, he also served as a scout for the New York 
Knickerbockers from 1958 -1977. He was an accomplished badminton player as 
evidenced by the many titles he earned both at the state and national levels. 
Red Thomas remained a sports enthusiast and athlete even after his retirement 
from competition becoming an avid runner and occasional tandem-bike rider with 
his wife Sadie.

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family on Tuesday, the 24th of 
January 2012, beginning at 12 noon until 1:30 P.M. at Blanchard- St. Denis 
Funeral Home in Natchitoches, La. Recitation of the holy rosary will begin at 
1:30 P.M.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, the 24th of January 2012, 
at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches, LA. at 
2:30 P.M. under the direction of Father Irion St. Romaine. Burial will follow 
the service in the Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches, La.

The Thomas family requests in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the 
Charles F. and Sadie G. Thomas Scholarship fund through the NSU Foundation, 
Alumni Center, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA 71457 or a 
charity of your choice .

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