Just saw a re-air of the episode on Big 10 network about this school and coach after the tornado that wiped out this town a couple years back on tv Monday. Amazing how much scum in this world.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Ed Thomas, who has produced four NFL linemen as the football coach at tiny Aplington-Parkersburg High, was shot and killed Wednesday inside the school's weight room, authorities said.
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Ross Dettman for ESPN.com
Ed Thomas, pictured in 2008 beside the football field at Aplington-Parkersburg High, was shot and killed Wednesday at the school.
The gunman shot Thomas at about 8 a.m. with about 50 students in the school, including several in the weight room at the time. School was not in session, and no one else was injured in the attack.
Thomas, the 2005 NFL High School Football Coach of the Year, was airlifted to a hospital and died, his family said in a statement.
The gunman was being held in Butler County Jail.
Authorities would not say if the gunman was a student at the school. But school district board secretary Sue Miller said she had heard he was not.
The district's superintendent and a guidance counselor were meeting with students who were in the weight room at the time of the shooting.
"No kids were hurt, we're thankful for that," Superintendent Jon Thompson told KOEL radio. "They did witness this and so we have counselors at the site to talk with the kids."
The school is in Parkersburg, about 80 miles northeast of Des Moines.
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Looking back at Thomas
From 2008: After a tornado ripped through Parkersburg, Iowa, the town realized that one of the best patches of new grass needs to be at the football field -- the one Ed Thomas coached on. Story
• E:60: Sacred acre
• Photo Gallery
Aplington-Parkersburg is the alma mater of four current NFL players -- Casey Wiegmann of the Kansas City Chiefs, Jared DeVries of the Detroit Lions, Brad Meester of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers. All played for Thomas.
Thomas compiled a career record of 292-84 in 37 seasons as a head coach, 34 of them at Aplington-Parkersburg, and was one of the most well-known high school football coaches in Iowa. He was honored as the NFL High School Football Coach of the Year in 2005.
DeVries, a defensive end with the Lions, walked off the field in Allen Park, Mich., toward the end of a morning practice, apparently shaken.
Team officials said DeVries was not immediately available for comment.
Thomas made national headlines last year when he insisted that the high school's football field, named in his honor, be rebuilt as a way to help restore community pride in Parkersburg after it was hit by a powerful tornado in May 2008 that killed six people and destroyed the high school.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Ed Thomas, who has produced four NFL linemen as the football coach at tiny Aplington-Parkersburg High, was shot and killed Wednesday inside the school's weight room, authorities said.
[+] Enlarge
Ross Dettman for ESPN.comEd Thomas, pictured in 2008 beside the football field at Aplington-Parkersburg High, was shot and killed Wednesday at the school.
The gunman shot Thomas at about 8 a.m. with about 50 students in the school, including several in the weight room at the time. School was not in session, and no one else was injured in the attack.
Thomas, the 2005 NFL High School Football Coach of the Year, was airlifted to a hospital and died, his family said in a statement.
The gunman was being held in Butler County Jail.
Authorities would not say if the gunman was a student at the school. But school district board secretary Sue Miller said she had heard he was not.
The district's superintendent and a guidance counselor were meeting with students who were in the weight room at the time of the shooting.
"No kids were hurt, we're thankful for that," Superintendent Jon Thompson told KOEL radio. "They did witness this and so we have counselors at the site to talk with the kids."
The school is in Parkersburg, about 80 miles northeast of Des Moines.
<!-- start sidebar table -->
Looking back at Thomas
• E:60: Sacred acre
Aplington-Parkersburg is the alma mater of four current NFL players -- Casey Wiegmann of the Kansas City Chiefs, Jared DeVries of the Detroit Lions, Brad Meester of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers. All played for Thomas.
Thomas compiled a career record of 292-84 in 37 seasons as a head coach, 34 of them at Aplington-Parkersburg, and was one of the most well-known high school football coaches in Iowa. He was honored as the NFL High School Football Coach of the Year in 2005.
DeVries, a defensive end with the Lions, walked off the field in Allen Park, Mich., toward the end of a morning practice, apparently shaken.
Team officials said DeVries was not immediately available for comment.
Thomas made national headlines last year when he insisted that the high school's football field, named in his honor, be rebuilt as a way to help restore community pride in Parkersburg after it was hit by a powerful tornado in May 2008 that killed six people and destroyed the high school.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
