Friends and members of the Minority Alliance Network Organization (M.A.N.O.) gathered at the Fort Concho Stables on Friday for an elegant evening celebrating local business owners coming together to empower their community, and for keynote speaker Greg Thomas, the event was a warm homecoming.
Thomas was a standout three-sport athlete at San Angelo Central High School and became the first black quarterback in school history, before going on to start in that position for the University of Arkansas as a freshman in 1984.
Thomas said it was good to be back home and spoke about his gratitude for everything San Angelo had taught him, reflecting on how local heroes like Ben Kelly and Sam Bradford helped mentor him after they broke color barriers, both locally and for Texas.
“They gave me the inspiration to do what I do today.
“Who would have thought, little bitty Greg Thomas in San Angelo Texas, would have the opportunity to play at the University of Arkansas?
“Nobody. Nobody thought that. I didn’t think that.
“Who would’ve though that Greg Thomas, from 2305 Williams Street, would have the opportunity to put his foot in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in the same year playing football?
“Nobody. But I had a dream. And although I love San Angelo, I also wanted to find out what was out there.
“I wanted to see if I had what it takes to make it.”
Thomas spoke about his family, noting that his mother and father, both educators, provided him with the strong foundation that prepared him for what turned into his life’s work, as he explained how he is now in his 30th year with Plano ISD, where he coaches basketball and works with at-risk students.
Thomas said he has a unique position within the district specializing in encouraging young people who’ve maybe given up on the idea of graduating from high school to go ahead and get that diploma.
“I work with young people who’ve given up on life,” he said, “They don’t go to school; their parents are divorced, or they have some other life issues, or maybe they have a child and a job…
“So they’ve given up, and that’s what I do; I chase them down and
just try to give them that same love and support that I got here in San Angelo.”
Thomas said it’s always a proud moment for him when he sees one of his students graduate.
He told attendees that San Angelo needs M.A.N.O. right now, and he encouraged all the members to reach out to the young folks in the community and offer their experience and help through mentorship.
“They need to see this,” Thomas said, “They need to hear your stories and see what you’ve been able to do.
“I’m in the schools, and I’m telling you — we don’t teach it. They may learn about some business principles in class, but they never get to see the end result, so they need to see this, and they need to hear ‘You can do this’ and ‘You will do this.’ That’s what young people need. I see it every day.
“I tell my basketball team every day — every day — ‘Dream Big’! And dreaming big means you have to put yourself in positions you never thought you’d be in.”
“I’m still trying to teach it today; it’s a great feeling when you help somebody, and it’s not a handout, it’s a hand-up.
“When you don’t know what you’re trying to do, you need someone to help guide you, and I learned that right here. I am so appreciative. I am humbled to be here in front of you.”
According to his biography, his father, Allie Thomas Sr., had been an outstanding baseball and football player in high school also but he was unable to compete at the major college level due to exclusionist racial policies at time.
He went on to become a state-championship coach at Blackshear High School and a principal.
When Thomas went to the University of Arkansas, he played for coach Ken Hatfield racking up 3,140 total yards and 23 career touchdowns with a winning record in his four seasons.
Thomas is also a published author. His book, “No Doubting Thomas ‘Hawg Whisperer’ My Arkansas Memoirs” was published in 2022 and was a finalist for Sports Book of the Year.
About M.A.N.O.
The founders of Minority Alliance Network Organization set out to help other small business owners connect with the wider community and get valuable information that can help them expand and promote their businesses.
The organization holds several gatherings throughout the year, offering various initiatives and programs, they promote education, advocacy, and community involvement, with events designed to raise awareness and provide opportunities for business owners to make a positive impact in the community.
