Speaker Aaron Thomas

This past weekend I had a Hills Bank Youth Salute award ceremony and we had a motivational speaker who spoke to us about leadership.  Aaron Thomas is the son of coach Ed Thomas from Parkersburg who was shot and killed by a former student.  Aaron spoke about how his father was a leader throughout his life.  When Parkersburg was hit by a tornado coach Ed Thomas took charge and started the clean up efforts and had the vision to play the first football game of the season on their home field.  Ed Thomas led people by being a good example for the community. Aaron told us the stories of his fathers life and how he worked to bring the best out in people no matter who they were.  When Ed Thomas was shot by one of his former players his family made the decision to do what he would have wanted and in a press conference forgave the family for what had happened and reminded the community that they were going through something terrible as well and the community needed to keep them in their prayers.  Through the leadership of the Thomas family the Parkersburg community was able to heal and stand by both families.  I was very moved by the speech that Aaron Thomas gave because he showed the kind of leadership in his life that is the best kind.  The Thomas family has been strong through many things that have made a change on their lives.  This speech was one of the most moving things I have witnessed because I could see the impact Ed had on his family and community and he was taken before his time but his family understood and was forgiving.  Aaron used the things his father taught him to help get through his struggles and is telling his story to help others develop that kind of leadership.  Leadership is something that if used to the best of the leaders ability can change a whole community.  The leadership we are trying to achieve should be this kind because it is the kind that changes the lives of many people for the better.