Published: June 26, 2009 09:04 am      

Shooting spurs questions about communication

Stunned.

That’s all I could muster Wednesday morning when hearing about Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas’ untimely death. I wasn’t stunned because I knew Thomas well, having only briefly met him as a high-school junior, but instead, I sat in awe as to how this could happen to a reportedly selfless man in an Iowa town of about 2,000 people.

In my only excursion to Parkersburg, I was a know-it-all teenager, staying with a friend at his relatives’ house in anticipation of watching the state football playoffs. Because my friend’s uncle served as principal of Aplington-Parkersburg High School, we were granted the free tour of pre-tornado-ridden hallways lined with tile flooring, worn-out desks and NFL jerseys encased in frames.

But the tour paled in comparison to meeting Thomas. Only a short meeting showcased his ability to motivate. Had he wanted me to clear a path for him through a wall, I would have. That’s saying quite a bit for man I just met.

I left Parkersburg that day and never returned. Now, more than six years later, a town still reeling from a tornado that ripped through killing six people, must now rebuild again, this time, without their leader manning the charge.

Clinton High School football coach Lee Camp also remembers Thomas — not only from a coaching perspective, but how he carried himself off the field, too.

“I’ve met him several times at coaching clinics,” Camp said. “He’s a tremendous person. He was a great individual to talk with regarding football and other things. He would give me input on questions and it was never about him.”

One of Camp’s memories regarded a question posed to Thomas about getting kids interested in early morning summer weight programs.

“How do you get kids involved?” Camp asked Thomas at a coaching clinic, trying to pick a man’s mind who won almost 300 games and sent four players to the NFL. “It all comes down to the kids,” Thomas replied.

Fortunately, Clinton High School kids responded and that passion is alive at CHS. Students enjoy access to the weight room three days a week during the summer, and have almost a six-hour window to cram in the activity.

Unfortunately for the town of Parkersburg, one of Thomas’ former football kids allegedly decided the face of the community’s fate.

In the coming weeks, we’ll find out more regarding incidents surrounding the tragedy and the alleged killer. Many will second-guess how a person with consistent legal troubles since 2003 escaped serious jail-time, including being released from psychiatric evaluation Tuesday after allegedly being involved in a two-county high-speed chase.

But predicting future criminal patterns is almost impossible, and when done, invites a host of possible mistakes. But why was the alleged killer apparently released?

Assistant Clinton County Attorney Ross Barlow said many variables could determine how hospital and law enforcement officials deal with alleged criminals.

“It all depends on how the court order is structured,” Barlow said. “If there’s concern about dangers of the person, the court order may call for the person to be returned to custody. In some cases, if it appears after the evaluation they are safe, they can be released under certain conditions. It really depends on a case by case basis.”

Why the alleged killer was released will most likely come to light in the coming days or weeks. Right now, though, reports indicate a growing assumption of miscommunication between the hospitals and local law enforcement. The police say they were not notified of a release, while the hospitals claim they were not told to notify anyone.

Regardless of what happened, communication is the glaring problem. One positive garnered from this situation could be the spotlight shone on hospital and law enforcement communication.

Already in the works for the Clinton County Justice Coordinating Commission are ways to address mental health issues and contact with hospitals, Clinton Police Chief Brian Guy said.

“Not all mental cases are criminal,” Guy said. “It takes coordination from law enforcement, judges and hospitals to work more effectively to provide better service and service to the people involved.”

While other cities have the opportunity to identify an issue and make progress on it, the town of Parkersburg must recoup after losing another cornerstone of the community. The path to recovery will rely on the students who Thomas was graciously trying to improve Wednesday.

It won’t be about wins or losses when the football team steps on Ed Thomas Field for the first time in 34 years without their legendary coach; instead it will be about preserving a memory of their legendary coach.

“The reason he was there (at the weight room) was because he was doing it for the players,” Camp said. “Opening the weight room was the thing that he was doing to go out of his way to make people better and grant more opportunities. I would hope the players would be inspired by the lifestyle and mission he led.”



Scott Levine is the Associate Editor at the Clinton Herald. He can be reached at scottlevine@clintonherald.com.