Marion High School

Homer Thomas was educated in a small one room schoolhouse in Grant County, Indiana, before entering Marion High School. His time in Marion allowed him to excel both in the classroom and on the athletic field. He became a national high school record holder in the 12-pound hammer throw, an all-state halfback in football and an excellent bowler. His 12-pound hammer throw was well ahead of his competition. In 1902, his winning throw was 144-3, with an improvement in 1903 of 160-5 at the state finals at Indiana University. His dominance was reported to have come from his development of the three-turn delivery. Before Thomas' participation in the event, winning throws rarely surpassed 120 feet. It was reported that with an injured arm in 1902, he threw a winning record with only the use of one arm.

During his freshman year at Purdue University, Thomas was on the Big Four Railroad train wreck while traveling with the football team to Indiana University. It was reported that he had been killed. However, he fell onto soft soil and rolled down a hill away from the wreck. In 1904, Thomas set the Western Conference (now Big Ten Conference) record defeating the great Michigan thrower Ralph Rose, who was a six-time Olympian medalist. The Detroit Free Press reported that he joined Chicago Athletic Association teammates to participate in the 1904 St. Louis Olympic Games. Homer continued setting records for the next three years. Thomas captained the 1905 Purdue football team and signed to play professional football for Massillon, Ohio. On July 5, 1907, Thomas married Lillian Arnold in a Plainfield Quaker ceremony. While honeymooning in Chautauqua, New York, he took a six-week course to prepare him to become the physical director for Manual High School of Washington University, St Louis. In 1918 he moved to Birmingham, Alabama, for a 36-year stay as their director of physical education and coach. However, he nearly left for the University of Alabama football coaching job. Thomas was characterized as a leader who always promoted and protected the welfare of the youth.