GTOA Member Information


Update on Don Thomas (posted 6/7/2010)

Don Thomas at Rest, June 5th, 2010

We lost Don at 5:30am Saturday, June 5th, 2010.  He just quit breathing, an easy passing as far as I could tell.  He was surrounded by friends and family over the 3 weeks he was bedridden and showered with kisses and love up to the last.  His son Brad and I were restless and kept checking on him, so we were with him when his breathing became shallow and fast and then stopped. 

Services were held at Floral Haven in Broken Arrow, on Saturday, June 12, 2010. The chapel held 150 with a lobby that was used for overflow.  He was buried in his football uniform, and attending officials wore their uniforms in his honor.  It was a highly visible tribute to a man who dedicated himself to sports officiating and to the growth of the boys and girls who benefited from so many officials who shared this spirit.

Thank you for your prayers for me as well as for Don.  I know he lasted 16 years with this dreaded disease because so many, (so many!) of you held us up in prayers!  Life for me will not be as exciting without him.  He made me a better woman by his determination to really live his life, to "give every minute something to keep in store," as the old hymn says.  

I miss him, extremely.  But I have the peace and comfort only the Lord can give in knowing I will see him again.

Love,   Wanda


Update on Lance Agnew (posted 12/2/2009)

LANCE AGNEW - December 1, 2009

Lance Agnew, fellow official and friend, passed away on December 1st, 2009 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. The GTOA and OSSAA had made arrangements for Lance to be the Honorary Official and perform the coin toss at the 2009 6A State Championship game. This would have been his final on-field duty as an official, but he was unable to make that assignment as there was another plan for him. The loss of Lance is a tough event for our association but our memory of him will live on.