Kilgore’s Thomas signs with Baylor

By MITCH LUCASsports@kilgorenewsherald.com

THOMAS TAKES SHOWTOWACO— Kilgore High School senior and multi-sport athlete Courtney Thomas (shown at left with mom Alberta Burnett) signed a four-year scholarship with Baylor University on Tuesday afternoon. Thomas stood out in three sports in the last school year with KHS — he finished second in the state in both the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash; he helped the football team win the Class 4A state championship; and helped the baseball team to the third round of the playoffs.

Courtney Thomas, the little man that made KHS fans marvel, whether he was on the track, the football field or a baseball diamond, signed a four-year track and field scholarship on Tuesday afternoon with Baylor University.

The 5-7, 150-pound senior at Kilgore was noticed by BU, as well as a number of other schools, in the track season (coached by Jim Hargett) when he won almost every 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash in which he participated, and earned a spot at the state track meet in Austin running both events. Thomas won a silver medal (second place) in both, running the 100 in 10.49 seconds and the 200 in 21.28 seconds — both his best times of the season.

Tuesday afternoon, he was typical Courtney — holding off his signing ceremony until a family member could arrive. Thomas stood out in front of the Mitchell Field House himself, hoping to flag down his aunt.

She arrived, and Thomas was all smiles as he signed the scholarship, then was greeted by family, teammates and coaches afterward.

“This is a lot of fun on our part because Courtney has been a special one to us,” said head football coach and athletic director Mike Vallery. “When you think of people that accomplish the things that Courtney does, you think of the biggest and the strongest. ...This young man might not be those things, but he gets the job done.”

Thomas was huge for the Bulldogs as a two-way starter in football, where he made 81 tackles and six interceptions on defense, and caught 11 touchdowns as a wideout on offense (including three in the second half of a bi-district game against Brenham and one in the state championship game against Dallas Lincoln). He finished the season with 685 yards and the 11 scores on 23 receptions.

In baseball, Thomas was coach Tim Harkrider’s left fielder. He hit .250 on the season, playing in 23 games of a possible 34. He had 16 hits, including three doubles and one home run. He had 10 RBI and was 3 for 4 in stolen base attempts.

Photo by Mitch Lucas