Hazel Park honors the late Terry Thomas
HAZEL PARK >> Part of Terry Thomas’ legacy was his willingness to work in the community to give back to anyone in need.
Now his legacy will live on forever at Hazel Park Schools.
On Wednesday, at halftime of the Vikings’ varsity boys basketball game against Monroe Jefferson, the district honored the late HPS graduate by naming the court after him.
“My dad was always in the community working with special needs children,” said Cody Thomas, Terry’s youngest son. “He always wanted to give back.”
“Our dad was an inspiration to his family and in the Hazel Park community,” said Justin Thomas, whose father passed away at the age of 45 from cardiac arrest in October of 1998.
Terry Thomas’ name appears twice on the court in the corner of each end of it.
There is also a plague that will hang in the gym to explain his ties to Hazel Park Schools.
“We want this to inspire future generations,” said Justin Thomas, who was nine when his father passed away. “This is what we did this for.
We want people to look at the court, see his name and then go and look at the type of person he was in the community.”
Along with the naming of the court, the Thomas’ have set up an annual scholarship that will go to a graduating senior each year moving forward.
“We learned a lot about our dad through family members, friends, students, and former teammates,” said Cody Thomas, who was five when his father passed away. “Hearing all the good things he did in the community we’re now able to translate that into keeping his legacy alive for future generations.”
You don’t need to be an athlete at Hazel Park Schools in order to apply for the scholarship. To apply, students need to write an essay as to why they would like the scholarship and what they plan on using it for, including references that speak of their character and finally include all the community service they have done.
One of his former teachers, Geri Fuhr, spoke at the event.
“I remember when I first started teaching and coaching at Hazel Park High School in 1989,” said Fuhr, who donated the plaque that will hang in the gymnasium. “Terry came into the gym and I remember playing threeon-three with him. What a talent.
“I have been blessed to have the opportunity to coach four of his six children as well as one of his nephews,” Fuhr continued. “I wanted to honor Terry and his family in a special way with this plaque.”
On the plaque it reads at the end, “Terry Thomas has left a legacy that will inspire past, present, and future Hazel Park students to excel at the highest level as scholars, athletes, and citizens.”
Terry Thomas graduated from Hazel Park High School in 1971 where he earned all-state honors in basketball. He went on to play for Dick Vitale at the University of Detroit-Mercy. After his celebrated college career, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 151st overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft.
“My dad was such an inspiration to me and he touched a lot of lives with everything he did,” Justin Thomas said.