Stan Thomas

Stan Thomas Head of high school sports federation Stan Thomas, 78, who served as commissioner of the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section from 1986 until 1993, when he was forced to resign over disputed expense-account reports, died Wednesday at an Orange County hospital after a heart attack. Thomas, who lived in Fullerton, had been battling illnesses for the last 11 years, according to his son, Chris. As commissioner of the body that governs high school sports, Thomas was credited with improving relations among the state's various high school organizations and praised for his administrative and managerial skills.

Stan Thomas Head of high school sports federation Stan Thomas, 78, who served as commissioner of the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section from 1986 until 1993, when he was forced to resign over disputed expense-account reports, died Wednesday at an Orange County hospital after a heart attack. Thomas, who lived in Fullerton, had been battling illnesses for the last 11 years, according to his son, Chris. As commissioner of the body that governs high school sports, Thomas was credited with improving relations among the state's various high school organizations and praised for his administrative and managerial skills.

Stan Thomas, an administrator in charge of commerce and technology for the Tustin Unified School District and a former high school football coach and principal in Southern California, is expected to be introduced today as the new commissioner of the Southern Section of the California Interscholastic Federation.

Robert Thomas is unbeaten UCLA's leading tackler, a Butkus Award favorite and prized NFL prospect. The senior inside linebacker is a headliner, the leading man in the maelstrom in the middle. Stan Thomas is Robert's brother. These days, that's enough for him. Once he was star lineman at Texas and a first-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears. Once he looked forward to a bright career.That was before the club-hopping, the fights, the bullet to the head. Robert witnessed it all.

A Chicago Bears rookie tackle who was wounded in a Pacific Beach drive-by shooting was reported in good condition Sunday night after surgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Stan Thomas, 23-year-old first-round NFL draft choice of the Chicago Bears last year, was wounded about 1:15 a.m. Sunday as he was driving away from a Pacific Beach bar which he and two companions had left after an argument with a bar patron, police said. The reason for the dispute was not disclosed by police.

Before too long, Stan Thomas thinks he'll be wearing his new title of Southern Section commissioner like a comfortable pair of old shoes. Thomas, 55, is wrapping up his responsibilities as district administrator for commerce and technology at Tustin Unified School District. Beginning July 1, Thomas will take over as the section's sixth commissioner, succeeding Ray Plutko, who announced in February that he would resign to become head of the Colorado High School Activities Assn.

He will tell you he's only doing the bidding of his constituents, but Stan Thomas may be the most powerful man in California high school sports. As one of his constituents put it: "He is sort of God." Since 1986, Thomas, 58, has been commissioner of the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section, a sprawling, nonprofit organization of 476 high schools from Mammoth to the San Diego County line, excluding 49 Los Angeles city campuses.

There is more to high school athletics than game-winning touchdowns, last-second baskets and state championships. As the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and the Southern Section continue to grow, so does the number of issues facing high school administrators. Sportsmanship, violence, drug testing, open enrollment, growth and summer participation are among the many issues school administrators are currently dealing with. How are administrators dealing with crowd control?

Stan Thomas, a rookie tackle for the Chicago Bears, was in good condition and expecting to be released from a La Jolla hospital today after suffering a head wound when someone fired several shots at his car early Sunday. Police continued to investigate the shooting, which occurred after Thomas, 23, and two companions left a San Diego nightclub.

Names in the News Stan Thomas, former Southern Section commissioner, was hospitalized on Christmas after suffering two aneurysms that ruptured an artery. Thomas, 66, underwent surgery Sunday to replace the artery, which is in the pelvic region. He is in intensive care at St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton. Thomas was Southern Section commissioner from 1986 to 1993.

Names in the News Stan Thomas, former Southern Section commissioner, was hospitalized on Christmas after suffering two aneurysms that ruptured an artery. Thomas, 66, underwent surgery Sunday to replace the artery, which is in the pelvic region. He is in intensive care at St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton. Thomas was Southern Section commissioner from 1986 to 1993.

An extravagant trip to Hawaii last October was one of many costly items Stan Thomas put on his expense account as the CIF's Southern Section commissioner in the last year. It was also one of the things that led to his forced resignation Wednesday night. A recent six-week audit into Thomas' expense-account reporting revealed uncharacteristic spending that contributed to the Southern Section's operating deficit of $112,000, the largest in its history.

Question and answer panelists Sandy Blumenthal, Sheri Ross, Stan Thomas and Mark Trakh have more than 85 years of combined experience in education, administration and coaching. A closer look at the panel members: Sandy Blumenthal, La Habra High girls' volleyball and badminton coach--Blumenthal has coached La Habra's volleyball team to three consecutive State Division II and Southern Section 3-A championships.

Until the early 1970s, girls' high school athletic competition was treated like a social event. Punch and cookies were served after an intramural basketball game or field hockey match. There were no section or State championships to be won. No pep rallies or long bus trips to special competitions. Interscholastic athletics, after all, was for the boys . But 20 years later, girls' athletics has come a long way. Boys' State championship banners share wall space with those won by girls.

Stan Thomas, a rookie tackle for the Chicago Bears, was in good condition and expecting to be released from a La Jolla hospital today after suffering a head wound when someone fired several shots at his car early Sunday. Police continued to investigate the shooting, which occurred after Thomas, 23, and two companions left a San Diego nightclub.

Stan Thomas, a Chicago Bears rookie tackle, was in good condition Monday and could be released from Scripps Memorial Hospital today after sustaining a head wound Sunday when someone fired several shots at his car. "He's doing really well," said Michael Merkow, Thomas' agent, who added the player should be recovered in six weeks and ready to play next season.

I read the article on CIF Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas (Dec. 10) with great interest. As Mark Landsbaum points out, Thomas has done remarkable work at resolving some of the knotty problems of Southern California athletics. What Landsbaum doesn't say, however, is even more important--how the commissioner fulfills his important duties. By that, I mean how much Stan Thomas has done to promote and make possible the educational value of athletics for all youngsters. Thomas is a rare commissioner of high school athletics, one who pays just as close attention to the value of athletic competition for all students as he does to the superior programs and highly sought-after athletes.

Our government prides itself on a check-and-balance system that affords some means of protection from those who would use their power of authority unwisely. Unfortunately, the Southern Section of the CIF appears sadly lacking in that regard. Strong rhetoric and implied threats have been tossed about repeatedly by (Southern Section Commissioner) Stan Thomas. How can we be expected to trust or give credence to someone who was predisposed to call the community of Canyon Country "volatile?"

A Chicago Bears rookie tackle who was wounded in a Pacific Beach drive-by shooting was reported in good condition Sunday night after surgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Stan Thomas, 23-year-old first-round NFL draft choice of the Chicago Bears last year, was wounded about 1:15 a.m. Sunday as he was driving away from a Pacific Beach bar which he and two companions had left after an argument with a bar patron, police said. The reason for the dispute was not disclosed by police.