MADISON TOWNSHIP — As a high school student, Larry Thomas said his classmates voted him most likely not to succeed.
Six decades later, he’s proving them wrong.
Thomas, who now resides in Florida, recently donated $100,000 to Madison Comprehensive High School.
Thomas made the donation on behalf of himself and his two brothers, Michael and David, who also graduated from Madison. David graduated in 1960 and Michael in 1963. Both have since passed away.
Thomas graduated in 1964 as part of the first class to matriculate in today’s high school building.
“That’s where we all three went to school and I wanted to put my brother’s names on it too,” Thomas said. “Since we were the first class to graduate, I just figured that would be a special.
“I’ve still got nieces and nephews that go to that school and I want to see it be a good place for them to go to school,” he added.
After graduating, Thomas made a career in metal fabrication and manufacturing. He went on to found several businesses.
“It was something I really enjoyed and just went on with it,” Thomas said.
“The first (business) was just buying and selling nuts and bolts and then I got into manufacturing. That’s what I’ve always done.”
After founding his first business, Thomas purchased a condo in Fort Myers Beach. He’s lived in Florida ever since.
Thomas described Madison as a good school with good teachers, although he admits to not being a very engaged student at the time.
“I was considered a hoodlum to be honest with you,” he said. “I just did whatever I wanted to.”
Madison administrators said they’re extremely grateful for the donation.
“We’re very excited,” Supt. Rob Peterson said. “We’re very appreciative that somebody would think to make that kind of donation towards the school and take pride in their school district.”
He said, ‘I want to give back to where I came from’
When high school principal Sean Conway first heard about the donation, he thought it was a prank.
Diane Larrick, the high school administrative assistant, scribbled down a missed call message on a pink sticky note: Larry Thomas wants to donate $100,000 to the high school, class of 1964.
“I went out to her and I said, are you messing with me?” Conway recalled. “She said, ‘Sean, I think he’s serious. I talked to him on the phone for a long time.'”
Conway called Thomas right away.
“He said he had a great experience at Madison, and he always was very fond of growing up in Mansfield, and he felt a special connection because he was in the first graduating class to graduate from this building,” Conway said. “He said, ‘I want to give back to where I came from.'”
Thomas didn’t put any stipulations on how the donation was spent, only that it was for Madison Comprehensive High School.
Conway said he’s carefully thinking through how best to use the funds. His goal is to use the money for something that will impact as many students as possible for years to come.
“I’ve obviously spoken with the administrative team here at the high school, and I’ve sought advice from (Supt. Rob) Peterson and (Director of School Improvement Curt) McVicker in the board office, because they are former high school principals,” he said.
“I’m also talking to building leaders in different areas within the high school, trying to get some feedback from them on what they think they can do.”
Conway said building leaders are in the process of talking with their colleagues and compiling ideas.
“I told them we would make the decision together,” Conway said. “I don’t want to rush to spend the money. It can go very quick if you’re not thinking it through.”
