Files
Transcript (158 KB)
Description
Identical twins Carl and Charles Thomas played basketball for Eastern Michigan University from 1987 until 1991. The Thomas twins helped the EMU men’s basketball team reach great heights from 1988-91. The then-Hurons won two Mid-American Conference titles (1987-88, 1990-91), made two NCAA Tournament appearances (1987-88, 1990-91) and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 1990-91 NCAA Tournament. In this interview, the Thomas brothers reflect on their respective paths to EMU, the mentorship and friendship of teammate Grant Long, the atmosphere at a Bowen Field House basketball game and the ups and downs of balancing academics with athletics. Both speakers emphasized the value of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, and discussed how their education and experiences have influenced their coaching styles. Finally, they shared their perspectives on leaving a lasting impact and making a difference in their respective fields.
Interview Date
10-1-2022
Keywords
EMU, Eastern Michigan University, basketball, Thomas Twins, oral history, archives, homecoming, EMU Homecoming, MAC, NBA
Permission to Use
Permission to quote from this oral history should be requested from the University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).
Copyright
Copyright to the audio resource and its transcript is held by the content creator, author, artist or other entity, and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any other format without written permission of the copyright owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).
Recommended Citation
Jones, Matt, "Carl and Charles Thomas, Oral History Interview, 2022" (2022). Oral Histories. 159.
https://commons.emich.edu/oral_histories/159