Former Philadelphia Eagles Player Advocates for Football as an Olympic Sport through the United States American Football All Stars
Joseph Thomas, Jr. sits down with Cambridge Who's Who in a life-revealing interview

WHEELING, WV, September 20, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ --Selected by Cambridge Who's Who to represent football as one of its top 101 professional experts, Joseph Thomas, Jr. knows the game in and out. With an impressive career that spans over six decades, the former Philadelphia Eagles player has demonstrated his versatility in the sport as center, linebacker, offensive and defensive end. Today, Joseph serves as the owner and coach of the United States American Football All Stars, a non-profit athletic organization comprised of over 250 youths. He is the leading advocate for football as an Olympic sport, and the published author of "Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Youth Football." In March, Cambridge Who's Who caught up with the sports legend to discuss his ambitions, his career and the future of athleticism.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in West Virginia, Joseph Thomas, Jr. rose to local fame at an early age while attending Wellsburg High School. At the time, he played center and linebacker for the school team. In the 1944 West Virginia North-South All-Star Game, he recounted, "I was having a great time...In the second quarter I broke my little finger. I didn't want to [be pulled] out, so I got the manager to tape it to my next finger and continued to play. [Later,] I was told that I made 75 percent of the tackles. After the game, I received nine scholarships to universities and colleges." Thomas finally settled on the University of Miami, Florida, was drafted into WWII, and played for the 310th Infantry in Germany in 1945-46. Upon his return home, he continued his playing career with the Weirton, WV Weiriters in 1949, where he would eventually catch the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles. This marked his entry into professional football.

After signing a contract with the Eagles in 1950-51, Thomas became one of its only 33 squad players, an accomplishment that he considers to be an honor to this day. His career was short-lived, however, as several debilitating injuries sustained to the hip, shoulder and nose forced him into early retirement. Thomas was not to be deterred. Although he could no longer play professional football, he chose to stay true to his passion as a coach and mentor. Prior to founding United States American Football All Stars, he returned to Wellsburg High School to act as a special teams coach. He also coached at Indian Creek High School in Wintersville, Ohio and Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia.

His experiences with youth, he noted, are what ultimately inspired him to write "Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Youth Football." Endorsed and sold by West Virginia Kiwanis International, over 3,000 copies were distributed with profits donated to the Kiwanis Children's Charity. "The book is all about the fundamentals of teaching young athletes [to] reach their goals in a safe manner," shared Thomas. "I [wrote] the book because the leagues weren't set up to [my] liking...I took all of the good rules and kicked all of the bad rules out."

Currently, Thomas practices his philosophy on sportsmanship and teaching as coach of the United States American Football All Stars. The troupe has thrived under his leadership and in 1998 played against the Hamburg Germany Blue Devils, Braunschweig Lions in 1999, and the Stuttgart Scorpions, in 2000. All three were Champions of the German American Football League. "We had a great time, and the host teams, sponsors, and fans were just absolutely tremendous," he said. In fact, the games sold out with over 22,000 in attendance. Moving forward, Thomas will seek to further solidify his organization with eight teams so that it can host international teams in the future. "We plan on inviting foreign teams to play friendly football games in the United States to help promote American Rule Football as the next Olympic Sport. The USA Football All-Stars Inc. has formed a league with eight teams, in order to provide the opportunity for the thousands of young, amateur athletes to show their skills and interest if and when American Rules Football becomes an Olympic sport.

If past record is any indication of the future, Thomas will achieve all that he sets his eyes on with the United States American Football All Stars Inc. For his exemplary sportsmanship and commitment to aspiring athletes, he has been recognized by Bethany College, WV, and the West Virginia Northern Community College in Weirton, WV for his contribution to the youth of Brooke County, WV, The Ohio Valley Dapper Dan, for his contribution throughout the Ohio Valley, Guest Speaker on Youth Football at the 1988 Kodak's Coach of the Year Clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. Thomas has received multiple prestigious recognitions including induction into the American Football Association Hall of Fame (1994) as a player, and again in 2009, as a coach. The Heinz History Center Wall of Fame (2004), the Cambridge Who's Who Registry of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs in 2007, In 2009, Thomas was named "Top Expert" by Cambridge Who's Who. This title is given to 101 select few of the organization's 400,000 members.

For more information about the United States American Football All Stars, please visit www.usafootballallstarsinc.org or email usafootballallstarsinc@yahoo.com.

View a video of Joseph Thomas, Jr.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Mbg73JfMk

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