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Clifford Leslie “Cliff” Thomas

Birth
Medford, Grant County, Oklahoma, USA
Death
31 Oct 2016 (aged 78)
Plains, Meade County, Kansas, USA
Burial
Plains, Meade County, Kansas, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Cindy Sheets
Perkins, Oklahoma

I sincerely appreciate all of the cards, flowers, food, hugs, and concern expressed to me after my Dad died last week. Thank you so much! I'm so fortunate to have all of you in my life!
I know that many of you were able to attend his service at SWH, and we really appreciate you taking time to do that.
I've had several people ask about the eulogy I wrote for Dad's service. I was a bit taken aback for a moment when he asked me to do it, but it turned into a very interesting conversation about his younger years.
This was read at the service, and it was followed with a series of posts by friends and his former students, which were on the school alumni FB page. I printed off those posts for him, and was so glad he got to read all of them before his death.

=====================================================
CLIFFORD LESLIE THOMAS
Clifford Leslie Thomas, 78, died October 31, 2016 surrounded by family at his home in Plains, Kansas.
Clifford was born December 1, 1937 in Medford, Oklahoma to Leslie and Alma (Froese) Thomas. He was the oldest of five children, including Harvey, Lawanda, Jerry, and Linda.
The family briefly resided in California and in Wichita, Kansas, before returning to Oklahoma. Cliff grew up on the family farm west of Medford, and graduated from Medford High School in 1955. He enlisted in the U.S. Army (with his parents’ permission) at the age of 17. While Cliff’s entrance exam scores qualified him for Officer Candidate School, his weight of 118 pounds did not. As a result, he was classified as a Specialist 3rd Class and shipped to the Presidio of Monterrey in California, where he studied Russian. He followed up that education at Ft. Devens, Mass., where he learned to be a Radio Intercept Operator. These skills earned him a front-row assignment during the Cold War at Kassel-Rothwesten Airfield intelligence facility in Germany. Cliff spent his on-duty hours monitoring radio transmissions of Russian troops engaged in tank exercises. “This was all Top Secret at the time,” he recently said. “I don’t know if I’m even supposed to be talking about it now.
“We’d listen and if we heard what we thought was Russian Army traffic, we’d record them.”
Cliff also recalled listening to a flurry of activity beginning in 1957. “We could hear code being transmitted,” he reported. “We didn’t know what it was saying, but we could recognize Morse Code.” It turned out the code hailed the launch of the Russian satellite, “Sputnik.” “It kept us up 24 hours a day,” he said. “It went on for about a year.” Cliff said he enjoyed the work, considering it “fun.”
He was Honorably Discharged from the Army May 31, 1963.
Cliff attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree May 25, 1962, with a major in English and minor in Education and Journalism. His Master of Education degree was conferred May 12, 1972.
While he was an undergraduate, Cliff wrote for the college newspaper, “Ranger Round-up,” and served as its sports editor one year and as editor for two years.
During a job fair his senior year, Cliff was offered a teaching job in his hometown, but ultimately decided to sign a contract with Plains High School in 1962. Plains offered a bit more money - $4,000 a year - so that decided it. “We didn’t know what the hell we were gonna do with all that money,” he joked.
“I’d never seen the town, never seen the school,” he said. “I was scared to death. They told me I’d have to wear a necktie so they could tell me from the kids.”
Cliff’s first year teaching turned out to be a success. To his great surprise, he was recognized as the Jaycees Club “Teacher of the Year.”
Cliff became active in the Kansas National Education Association, serving several years as the KNEA UniServ representative for southwest Kansas, and was elected president of the district. He then went on to serve KNEA at the state level as a board member for many years. Cliff represented Kansas as a delegate at the National NEA Convention for several terms.
He taught at Plains High School until the school district combined with Kismet High School, creating Southwestern Heights High School in 1965. Cliff retired from SWH in 1996, completing 34 years with the school district. “Mr. T” is remembered by former students for his dry wit, his engaging class discussions, the famous 1971 Senior-Faculty Basketball Game that earned him his nickname “Bird Legs,” and his ability to impart a love of, or at least competence in, English, Literature, and Writing.
While he was in college, Cliff wed Karan Ball, with whom he had four children, Cindy, Kathy, Cheryl, and Kristopher; the couple later divorced. He wed Elaine Amerin in 1995, and they continued to reside in Plains.
Cliff had a keen interest in golf for much of his life, and he spent many long hours enjoying the game with friends at Plains Country Club. He also served as greenskeeper for the country club during summer breaks from school, and was superintendent of Plains Housing for several years.
As advisor for the SWH annual, “The Mustanger,” Cliff kept busy as the school photographer, capturing and documenting moments from countless athletic events, concerts, plays, and daily school life. He later developed this skill into a photography business, providing photos for weddings and other events for area residents.
He was an avid reader, and he loved bird hunting, and watching sports – especially golf, basketball, and football. He spent many hours on the road traveling to his grandchildren’s basketball games, and was a fan of the Oklahoma Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys.
Cliff is survived by his wife, Elaine; children, Cindy Sheets (Keith) of Perkins, Oklahoma; Kathy Jacobs (Shawn) of Plains, Kansas; Cheryl Norton (Justin) of New Castle, Colorado; and Kris Thomas (Shadra), of Liberal, Kansas; and step-children Kip Amerin (Katherine) of Fountain, Colorado and Kara Redmon of Olathe, Kansas.
He is also survived by a brother, Jerry Thomas (Mariana) of Colby, Kansas; a sister, Linda Wallace (Lorion) of Burden, Kansas; his grandchildren, Wil Skeen, Madelayne Sheets, Cami Faust, Taly Jacobs, Rani Simon, Deni Jacobs, Rebi Ross, Cooper Norton, Jersey Norton, Trever Thomas, Tyler Thomas, Hunter Thomas, Nicholas Amerin, Jacob Amerin, and Jayden Redmon; four great grandchildren, Rowen Simon, Raleigh Simon, Aurora Norton, and Lenora Skeen; many nieces and nephews, and a great number of friends.
Cliff was predeceased by his parents, Leslie and Alma Thomas; his brother, Harvey Thomas, and his sister, Lawanda Horning.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2016, at Southwestern Heights High School, Kismet, Kansas, with Robert Kaberlein officiating. Cremation has taken place. Inrunment will be at the Plains Cemetery, Plains, at a later date. Services are under the direction of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.
Memorials may be sent to the Plains County Club or the Plains Library in care of the funeral home.
Cindy Sheets
Perkins, Oklahoma

I sincerely appreciate all of the cards, flowers, food, hugs, and concern expressed to me after my Dad died last week. Thank you so much! I'm so fortunate to have all of you in my life!
I know that many of you were able to attend his service at SWH, and we really appreciate you taking time to do that.
I've had several people ask about the eulogy I wrote for Dad's service. I was a bit taken aback for a moment when he asked me to do it, but it turned into a very interesting conversation about his younger years.
This was read at the service, and it was followed with a series of posts by friends and his former students, which were on the school alumni FB page. I printed off those posts for him, and was so glad he got to read all of them before his death.

=====================================================
CLIFFORD LESLIE THOMAS
Clifford Leslie Thomas, 78, died October 31, 2016 surrounded by family at his home in Plains, Kansas.
Clifford was born December 1, 1937 in Medford, Oklahoma to Leslie and Alma (Froese) Thomas. He was the oldest of five children, including Harvey, Lawanda, Jerry, and Linda.
The family briefly resided in California and in Wichita, Kansas, before returning to Oklahoma. Cliff grew up on the family farm west of Medford, and graduated from Medford High School in 1955. He enlisted in the U.S. Army (with his parents’ permission) at the age of 17. While Cliff’s entrance exam scores qualified him for Officer Candidate School, his weight of 118 pounds did not. As a result, he was classified as a Specialist 3rd Class and shipped to the Presidio of Monterrey in California, where he studied Russian. He followed up that education at Ft. Devens, Mass., where he learned to be a Radio Intercept Operator. These skills earned him a front-row assignment during the Cold War at Kassel-Rothwesten Airfield intelligence facility in Germany. Cliff spent his on-duty hours monitoring radio transmissions of Russian troops engaged in tank exercises. “This was all Top Secret at the time,” he recently said. “I don’t know if I’m even supposed to be talking about it now.
“We’d listen and if we heard what we thought was Russian Army traffic, we’d record them.”
Cliff also recalled listening to a flurry of activity beginning in 1957. “We could hear code being transmitted,” he reported. “We didn’t know what it was saying, but we could recognize Morse Code.” It turned out the code hailed the launch of the Russian satellite, “Sputnik.” “It kept us up 24 hours a day,” he said. “It went on for about a year.” Cliff said he enjoyed the work, considering it “fun.”
He was Honorably Discharged from the Army May 31, 1963.
Cliff attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree May 25, 1962, with a major in English and minor in Education and Journalism. His Master of Education degree was conferred May 12, 1972.
While he was an undergraduate, Cliff wrote for the college newspaper, “Ranger Round-up,” and served as its sports editor one year and as editor for two years.
During a job fair his senior year, Cliff was offered a teaching job in his hometown, but ultimately decided to sign a contract with Plains High School in 1962. Plains offered a bit more money - $4,000 a year - so that decided it. “We didn’t know what the hell we were gonna do with all that money,” he joked.
“I’d never seen the town, never seen the school,” he said. “I was scared to death. They told me I’d have to wear a necktie so they could tell me from the kids.”
Cliff’s first year teaching turned out to be a success. To his great surprise, he was recognized as the Jaycees Club “Teacher of the Year.”
Cliff became active in the Kansas National Education Association, serving several years as the KNEA UniServ representative for southwest Kansas, and was elected president of the district. He then went on to serve KNEA at the state level as a board member for many years. Cliff represented Kansas as a delegate at the National NEA Convention for several terms.
He taught at Plains High School until the school district combined with Kismet High School, creating Southwestern Heights High School in 1965. Cliff retired from SWH in 1996, completing 34 years with the school district. “Mr. T” is remembered by former students for his dry wit, his engaging class discussions, the famous 1971 Senior-Faculty Basketball Game that earned him his nickname “Bird Legs,” and his ability to impart a love of, or at least competence in, English, Literature, and Writing.
While he was in college, Cliff wed Karan Ball, with whom he had four children, Cindy, Kathy, Cheryl, and Kristopher; the couple later divorced. He wed Elaine Amerin in 1995, and they continued to reside in Plains.
Cliff had a keen interest in golf for much of his life, and he spent many long hours enjoying the game with friends at Plains Country Club. He also served as greenskeeper for the country club during summer breaks from school, and was superintendent of Plains Housing for several years.
As advisor for the SWH annual, “The Mustanger,” Cliff kept busy as the school photographer, capturing and documenting moments from countless athletic events, concerts, plays, and daily school life. He later developed this skill into a photography business, providing photos for weddings and other events for area residents.
He was an avid reader, and he loved bird hunting, and watching sports – especially golf, basketball, and football. He spent many hours on the road traveling to his grandchildren’s basketball games, and was a fan of the Oklahoma Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys.
Cliff is survived by his wife, Elaine; children, Cindy Sheets (Keith) of Perkins, Oklahoma; Kathy Jacobs (Shawn) of Plains, Kansas; Cheryl Norton (Justin) of New Castle, Colorado; and Kris Thomas (Shadra), of Liberal, Kansas; and step-children Kip Amerin (Katherine) of Fountain, Colorado and Kara Redmon of Olathe, Kansas.
He is also survived by a brother, Jerry Thomas (Mariana) of Colby, Kansas; a sister, Linda Wallace (Lorion) of Burden, Kansas; his grandchildren, Wil Skeen, Madelayne Sheets, Cami Faust, Taly Jacobs, Rani Simon, Deni Jacobs, Rebi Ross, Cooper Norton, Jersey Norton, Trever Thomas, Tyler Thomas, Hunter Thomas, Nicholas Amerin, Jacob Amerin, and Jayden Redmon; four great grandchildren, Rowen Simon, Raleigh Simon, Aurora Norton, and Lenora Skeen; many nieces and nephews, and a great number of friends.
Cliff was predeceased by his parents, Leslie and Alma Thomas; his brother, Harvey Thomas, and his sister, Lawanda Horning.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2016, at Southwestern Heights High School, Kismet, Kansas, with Robert Kaberlein officiating. Cremation has taken place. Inrunment will be at the Plains Cemetery, Plains, at a later date. Services are under the direction of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.
Memorials may be sent to the Plains County Club or the Plains Library in care of the funeral home.


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