In college, he was a star athlete for the Oklahoma Sooners under coach Bud Wilkinson.

[1] He also finished in ninth place in the Heisman Trophy balloting that season (the award was won by John David Crow that year).

[4] In the 1958 NFL draft, Thomas was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round.

Thomas was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

The company manufactured water repellents treatments for concrete and similar surfaces.