In Memoriam…Jesse Thomas

Columbia resident and former Baltimore Colt Jesse Thomas passed away last Wednesday. Jesse wore #40 and played defense for the Colts in 1955, 56 and 57. He later went on to serve as Head Coach of Morgan State University.

He also found time to give back to the community. According to this story by Jacques Kelly in The Sun, Jesse “collected food from local restaurants to be distributed at homeless shelters.”

My dad was a huge fan of the Colts in that era. He once even joined in with other fans in storming the field after a big game and tearing down the goal posts. One of his prized possessions was swatch of the Colts flag he snagged after the Colts beat San Francisco in November of 1958. A month later they would go on to play the New York Giants in the greatest game ever played. The 1959 Colts were immortalized in the movie "Diner." 

Services will be held tomorrow at 1 PM in St. Johns Baptist Church on Tamar Drive in the Village of Long Reach.