The Thomas Brothers
Jimmy Thomas (1947 – 2017) played college football at the University of Texas in Arlington. His team won the Pecan Bowl in 1967. He graduated with a BA in History and English. In 1969 Thomas was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 6th round. He played 5 years as both wide receiver and running back. In 1973 Jimmy became the first Black Assistant Coach at Trinity Christian University. He also worked as a football consultant for Trinity Valley High School. Jimmy was inducted into the Greenville Hall of Fame in 1983 and in 2000 was inducted into the Hall of Honor at UTA. He also worked at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth for over 20 years.
Earl Thomas (1948 – 2020) played football at the University of Houston as tight end. In 1971, he was drafted in the 6th round by the Chicago Bears. Earl played for six seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver for the Bears, the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Oilers. During his NFL career he caught 108 passes, ran 1,651 yards, scored 14 touchdowns and returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown. After retirement, Earl settled in Houston and became a businessman in the petroleum industry. He also taught coach youth track and field.
Mike Thomas (1953 – 2019) was a three-sport standout at Greenville High School. He began his collegiate football career at the University of Oklahoma. In 1972, in his first carry as a Sooner, Earl ran the ball 90 yards against Oregon. However, he really made his mark in college football after transferring to the University of Nevada – in Las Vegas. In 1975 Mike was drafted in the 5th round by the Redskins. He followed his rookie season by rushing for a career high 1,101 yards and 5 touchdowns in 1976, catching 28 passes for 290 yards and 4 touchdowns. He earned Pro Bowl honors that same year. He later played for the San Diego Chargers from 1979-1980. After retiring he worked in the oil business at Goldline Supply and at Enron. Mike married Sylvia Ann Wilkerson in 1987, establishing a blended family with 7 children. His son Spencer Gilbert and grandson Spencer Gilbert II are also standout athletes.
Olivia Gilmore Scales
Olivia Scales was born in Wolfe City on May 10, 1902, and died Oct. 22, 2007. Teaching was her chosen profession and she dedicated 70 years of her life to teaching Black students in Texas. At 15 years old, she started as a student teacher at the Farmers’ Improvement School (F.I.S.) school in Wolfe City. While studying her own classes, she taught language arts, math and history to 6th grade students. Later she taught Texas history, algebra, composition and Latin to 7th, 8th and 9th graders. Many of her students were equal to or larger than she in size and some were older. In 1922, Olivia graduated from high school as Valedictorian of her class at F.I.S.
After graduating, she was asked to remain on staff as an uncertified teacher. However, she was determined to achieve higher goals. In 1924, Scales went before the Hunt County Superintendent of Schools, at the courthouse in Greenville, A test was administered covering 16 subjects. When the test was graded by the Texas State Board of Education in Austin, Scales grade was in the 87 ½ percentile and was issued a 1st class teaching certificate.
Her first teaching position was at Lake Fork School in Lone Oak. She answered to an all Black board of trustees and taught as many as 54 students in the one teacher school. While teaching, she married Julius Scales and successfully incorporated raising a family in with her teaching and learning. They were married 43 years and had 5 children. Throughout the 30s and 40s she continued to teach in Black schools. She taught in six counties: Hunt, Rains, Grimes, Fannin, Jones and Washington.
Scales started her formal college education by taking some classes at Bishop College, then located in Marshall. From there, she went to Prairie View A&M-College Station where she received her degree in Education in 1946. Later she attended Butler College in Tyler where she obtained a degree in Home Economics in 1952. She came full circle and went back to Lone Oak to become Principal of the Lake Fork School. During her last three years at Lone Oak, she attended classes at East Texas State University and worked long hours towards her master’s degree in Education.
The 1964 integration of public schools in Texas forced Olivia Scales out of the classroom in Lone Oak. She led a group of other displaced Black teachers, parents and concerned citizens in filing a class action discrimination suit against the Lone Oak Board of Education and Jack Brookins, the Superintendent of Schools. The case was presided over by Judge Sarah T. Hughes in Dallas, who ruled in favor of Mrs. Scales and the other Black teachers. A ten-year injunction was placed against the district and resulted in the school system being totally integrated. The suit opened the door for all Blacks, teachers and coaches as well as students.
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