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- Justin Engel | jengel@mlive.com
Saginaw Public Schools officials are inviting the community to a Thursday, Aug. 27, ceremony honoring the legacy of the late Marshall Thomas
The gathering is scheduled at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium of Saginaw Middle School, formerly known as Saginaw <a href="https://healthylife7.com/fssai-proposes-red-warning-labels-for-high/” title=”FSSAI proposes red warning labels for high”>High School, where Thomas won more than 400 basketball games as a head coach
The school district’s board of education renamed the space as Marshall Thomas Gymnasium in October 2025
At the time, Thomas was battling cancer. He died one month later at the age of 78
Thursday’s event at the former Saginaw High, 3100 Webber, will serve as a ceremonial renaming of the gym
Thomas’ legacy included mentoring generations of Saginaw youths, both on the basketball court and out in the community. Thomas also was a teacher, tutor, administrator, deacon and volunteer
He graduated from Saginaw High in 1966 and went on to compete in football, basketball and track at Western New Mexico University
Thomas returned to Saginaw as a physical education teacher and swim instructor at Arthur Eddy before taking a job at Saginaw High as a math teacher
At Saginaw High, he was a teacher, tutor, football coach, track coach, basketball coach, golf coach, cross country coach, counselor and athletic director
Thomas retired as a coach in 2004 with a boys basketball record of 381-133 and a girls basketball record of 53-13. During his 22 years as the boys basketball coach, the Trojans won 16 district championships, reached the semifinals five times and claimed the Class A state championship in 1996
His basketball success led to a television job as an analyst for the Michigan High School Athletic Association during the boys basketball state finals
Thomas retired from teaching in 2009 to save a job for a younger teacher. He continued to serve as an assistant teacher and tutor
He is a member of the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame and the Western New Mexico University Hall of Fame. He was named Saginawian of the Year in 2009
Thomas was survived by his wife, Yvonne Thomas, and five daughters: Alexis, Natalijia, Monica, Julia and Celeste
