Hall of Fame

Leonard Thomas

Leonard "Rabbit" Thomas

  • Class
    1972
  • Induction
    1996
  • Sport(s)
    Football

Leonard Thomas was a four-year letterman in football from 1968-71 and rushed for 2,271 career yards and ranked as the Lions career rushing leader from 1971, until his mark was surpassed by Lawson Fletcher in 1981. He was named to the 50th Anniversary UNA Football Team for 1949-98. He was selected for the Lions Team of the Decade for 1959-68 as a running back on the Times Daily's First Forty Years UNA Football Team.

He led the Lions in rushing in both 1968 and 1969. He rushed 130 times for 659 yards in 1968 for a 5.1 averaged and carried the ball 141 times for 657 and a 4.7 average in 1969. He rushed 463 times in his career and scored 25 career touchdowns, which still ranked sixth best in UNA history at the time in his induction. He was named the team's Most Valuable Back in 1969 and received his B.S. degree in Secondary Education in 1972. During his career he was selected All-Alabama Collegiate Conference and All-Mid-South Conference.

Following his graduation he later served as an assistant coach at Butler High School for 13 years before being named head coach in 1983. He later taught at Challenger Middle School and was teaching and coaching at Johnson High School at the time of his induction.

 

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