Huntington to name park road 'William Thomas Way' in honor of late football coach

Students and colleagues of the late Huntington Station football coach William Earl Thomas III say his impact went well beyond the field where he held court for years. They said he was a friend who became like family.

Thomas, of Huntington, who coached the Huntington Youth Bulldogs Football team for 20 years, was 51 when he died in April. Now as a tribute to his dedication to the community, the Huntington Town Board has voted to name the entrance road to Manor Field Park at 90 E. Fifth St. "William Thomas Way."

Sammymac Arner, an 11th-grade student at Huntington High School who plays defensive end and right guard for the Bulldogs, said it’s a fitting tribute to Thomas known as "Coach Will."

"I really appreciate that," said Arner, 16, who had been coached by Thomas since he was 10. "He was one of a kind. He was the best coach and he was the best guy."

Arner said while all the coaches are good leaders, Thomas stood out in the way he carried himself and was a reliable and trusted resource if you had a problem or question.

"He taught us how to be respectful, how to be disciplined," Arner said. "He made me tougher, not in a bad way, in a great way. He was hard sometimes when he needed to be but that all translates over to living in this world, and I feel like Coach Will set me up for a lot of things I do today."

Thomas’ influence went beyond the youths under his tutelage. Friends described him as a legend and one of a kind.

Arner's dad, Marc, said when they first met Thomas, a member of his family was dealing with a health crisis.

"He just embraced us, embraced Sammymac, embraced our whole family immediately. It was way more than football," he said. "It was just something that was just very, very special. Something I had never experienced before. He was a great guy larger than life."

Davin Miles coached the Bulldogs beside Thomas for six years after the two had previously played together on the Nassau Community College football team. He said while football connected them, it was the camaraderie and a feeling of family that always took precedence.

"It’s hard to put into words what he meant to the kids and his impact," Miles said. "He was a legend in the making."

John Rovet, president of the Bulldogs, which is a member of the Suffolk County Police Athletic League's football program, said Thomas was an astounding leader who led the team to an unprecedented four straight championships, plus an additional one.

But his skill on the sidelines was outweighed by his humanity.

"His loss hurts a lot," Rovet said.

Thomas' father, the Rev. Dr. William Earl Thomas Jr., and his wife, the Rev. Hazel Gray Thomas, lauded their son as an accomplished man, athlete and chef of exotic dishes enjoyed by their family.

"My bride and I are extremely proud of our son," he said.

A street sign unveiling is planned later in the year.