Coach Ed Thomas was the longtime football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg. Throughout his tenure at Parkersburg and A-P his teams found a great deal of success both on and off the field. The high expectations of the kids on Friday were also being stressed as expectations each day of the week. 

In May of 2008, Parkersburg was hit head on by an EF-5 tornado and Coach Thomas's leadership was needed in a way never imagined before. He had to rally his team, and the town, as they both recovered from the destruction of the tornado. Despite the challenges all around them, A-P opened the 2008 football season on time and at home! 

After an 11-1 season in 2008, the 2009 season was one of anticipation. But on June 24, 2009 the unthinkable happened. Coach Thomas was killed while supervising a lifting session at the make shift high school weight room. 

Family, friends, fellow coaches, and players from near and far converged on Parkersburg to give their respects to Coach Thomas. Since that summer, the IFCA has awarded a player in each class the Ed Thomas Award to the player who best demonstrates the qualities and characteristics that Coach Thomas represented. 

Each year, IFCA member coaches can nominate TWO deserving players for the award. We encourage each coach to direct their players to this page to listen & learn a little more about who Coach Thomas was and how he lead his team, school, & community. 

A nomination form is also below and can be printed off for coaches or athletes to apply. 

We are proud to announce our 2023 selections of the Ed Thomas Faith-Family-Football Award Winners.

Class 5A--Seneca Molstre (Southeast Polk)

Class 4A--Grant Parker (Waverly-Shell Rock)

Class 3A--Joey Rhomberg (Mount Vernon)

Class 2A--Lance Helm (Albia)

Class 1A--Gavin Thomas (Aplington-Parkersburg)

Class A--Matthew Helscher (Wapello)

8-Man--Logan Nemmers (Bishop Garrigan)

Congratulations to these young men who represent the very best from their schools and from high school football throughout the state of Iowa!