John D. Thomas has retired after serving 27 years as a founding board member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Pennsylvania Chapter.

As a founding board member, John committed to the mission of recognizing, preserving, inspiring the history of wrestling in the state of Pennsylvania, alongside Stan Zeamer, Mike Clair, Dave Vannoy and Al Fasnacht, from 1994-2020.

The Pennsylvania Chapter was the foundation from which the National Wrestling Hall of Fame built its State Chapter Program with 37 chapters today.

John fit the board member profile model perfectly. He had high appreciation for academics and athletics in his local Wyomissing school district. Within the Berks county wrestling community he was a professional person, a networker, an influencer and a political action person; all skills he used to grow the Pennsylvania Chapter.

John’s grandson Cole Thomas completed a parent’s wrestlers circle: father, son & grandson all mat warriors. John had another come true dream about a father-son experience. Both have been inducted into the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2008, John was honored for his Life Time of Service and his son John C. Thomas was the Outstanding American class of 2017.

John’s wrestling career started in Columbia, PA a small blue collar river town. In 1957 John ended his high school senior dual meet season undefeated and placed third in Districts. In 1961 he graduated from West Chester State College with a fine collegiate wrestling record of 34-2.

John as a teacher-coach did his coaching warm up in Warwick and Hempfield Districts before posting an impressive 39-2 record at Manheim Central from 1964-67.

After leaving teaching in 1968, John returned to his roots as a union labor official. He developed the very first union classroom apprentice training program for heavy equipment Operating Engineers.  He then worked in the Pension, Annuity and Health & Welfare Department before becoming the Head Business Representative for a 29 county area covering Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

He was Head of the United Labor Council of Berks County and taught at the Union Leadership Academy at PSU Berks Campus, as well as Pennsylvania State Council 13 of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Union.  He was the founder of the Foundation for Fair Contracting which served as a private sector enforcement organization to augment government enforcement of State and Federal Laws governing compliance and enforcement of prevailing wage and hour laws.

Throughout these years and even through his retirement, John continued to coach wrestling at all levels and continued as a mentor to many younger coaches, many of whom had wrestled for him during their competitive years.  Many others continue to reach out to him for his trusted advice and counsel to this day.

His bride of over 62 years, Jean, is John’s most valued prize. They together have four sons John, Dave, Steve, Matt and enjoy six grandchildren. They live in Elverson Pennsylvania where John fulfills unconditionally his marriage love vows, caring for Jean as she battles health issues.

John’s big smile ALWAYS lit up the green jacket presentations he supervised at the PA Honors Banquets. He was a hands-on board member, and the PA Chapter thanks John Thomas for directing many golf events, raising thousands of dollars, and being a master in serving to serve the Pennsylvania wrestling community for the past 27 years.