The Saginaw Public School District Board of Education voted unanimously Oct. 15 to name the gymnasium at the former Saginaw High School—now Saginaw Middle School—in honor of legendary coach, educator, and mentor Marshall O. Thomas.
For more than three decades, Thomas shaped generations of Saginaw students, serving as a teacher, counselor, athletic director, assistant principal and coach. From math lessons to state championship runs, his presence at Saginaw High was as constant as the sound of basketballs echoing through the gym that will now bear his name.
Thomas joined Saginaw Public Schools in 1972 and served in multiple roles throughout his career. As head boys basketball coach from 1982 to 2004, he led the Trojans to nine league titles, 12 district championships, five regional crowns, a 1990 state runner-up finish, and the 1996 state championship. Off the court, he was known for teaching math with the same focus and precision that made his teams great, insisting that every student could learn, believe, and achieve.
Born and raised in Saginaw, Thomas returned to his hometown after college, determined to make a difference. What began as a teaching job became a lifelong mission of service that touched thousands of lives across classrooms, teams, and neighborhoods.
During Wednesday’s meeting, board members spoke with deep affection for the man many simply call “Coach T.”
“To know him is to love him,” said Board Vice President Janet H. Nash.
“The naming of the gym where most of his activities took place is entirely appropriate,” said Board Treasurer Ruth Ann Knapp, who later added, “I’m very pleased to see Mr. Saginaw High being honored.”
“He is another Willie Thompson,” said Board Trustee Mattie L. Thompson, referencing her late husband, a towering figure in Saginaw education.
Trustee Joyce Seals commended Thomas for his longtime support of The Saginaw Promise fundraisers, where he helped secure keynote speakers year after year.
“It’s an honor to be a part of this process,” added Trustee Jasmine S. Calhoun.
Superintendent Dr. Ramont Roberts shared personal memories, recalling how as a child he would attend Saginaw High games “in awe of the athletes and Coach T.”
“I am just proud of being a part of giving back [to him] what he gave to the community,” Roberts said.
Members of Thomas’s family were present for the vote, applauding through tears as they hugged board members and thanked district leaders for the recognition.
For Saginaw, the tribute carries more than a name—it marks a full-circle moment. The gym that once echoed with Thomas’s voice, discipline, and laughter will now carry his name forward for future generations of students to see, learn from, and remember.
Details for the formal ceremony at the Saginaw Middle School gymnasium will be forthcoming.