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Greg Thomas keynote speaker for MLK freedom scholarship dinner

Greg Thomas

University of Central Missouri alumnus Greg “Coach T” Thomas, a Kansas City area educator, coach, businessman and author, will be the keynote speaker for the University of Central Missouri’s 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Scholarship Dinner.

The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the Elliott Union Ballroom, according to a news release.

Thomas is the author of “Race In America: A Call to Heal” with editor David Smale. He is a graduate of East High School in Kansas City where he was an all-conference wrestling, football and baseball athlete and two-time national qualifier in wrestling. He is a 1981 graduate of UCM, where he was a four-year letterman and MIAA Junior Olympic All-American in wrestling and was inducted as a member of the UCM Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Throughout his 35-year career in education and athletics, Thomas has coached wrestling, football and baseball, leading several teams to national competitions.

In his second career as a businessman, he has been an owner of an auto parts and repair business, served as a trainer for UPS and safety coordinator in the construction industry. He also served as the Kansas City area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He currently is employed by the Blue Valley School District and coaches football and wrestling while training athletes from the metro Kansas City area.

In his book, Thomas explains his belief that “It’s not a black and white issue — it’s an issue of the heart.” As a coach, he inspires young athletes and adults alike to achieve improvement of race relations through cooperation, understanding, open discussion and love.

Tickets for the Freedom Scholarship Dinner can be purchased from the UCM Office of Mentoring, Advocacy and Peer Support in Dockery 212, or by calling 660-543-4156. Tickets will also be available at the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, 100 S. Holden St. Gold level tickets are $100, silver level tickets are $75, and bronze tickets are $50. Sponsored tables of eight also are available for purchase at the gold, silver and bronze levels.

Proceeds from ticket sales support the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Scholarships.

The Freedom Scholarship Dinner has funded more than 190 scholarships totaling more than $175,000 since its inception in 1998.

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