Clyde Thomas

Clyde Hansen Thomas, of Colorado Springs, CO, passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS – also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Clyde was surrounded by loving family members at the time of his passing. Clyde is survived by his wife of 38 years of marriage, Denise (Feasel) Thomas, and his daughter Brianna Thomas. His sister, Beth Ruckman, and her husband, Duane McBride of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and many other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Hansen Thomas, and Ruth Irene (Russell) Thomas and Denise’s parents, Richard Feasel and Darline Conley.

Clyde was born in Hartford City, Indiana and moved to Ft. Wayne, Indiana where he attended school in his early years. He moved to Colorado Springs where he attended Wasson High School in his last semester and graduated in 1970. Clyde moved back to Indiana shortly after and graduated from Indiana University / Purdue University with degrees in Sociology and Psychology. He returned to Colorado Springs where he started his career with TRW and Denver Equipment Company.

Clyde always had a passion for helping others. He worked at Pioneer Industrial Enterprise, a sheltered workshop for the mentally challenged, providing work skills for those who faced many challenges. While working at Pioneer, he began to volunteer for the Special Olympics. He created a year-round, multi-sport program that was named Special Sports Club. The Club trained and competed in over 11 sports.

During this time, he met the love of his life, Denise, and they married on June 15, 1985. Clyde and Denise continued to volunteer for Special Olympics which led to Clyde working in Albuquerque, New Mexico as the Competition and Training Director for the New Mexico State Special Olympics for just under a year. Clyde and Denise returned to Colorado Springs and Clyde worked with Pikes Peak Special Olympics as a Volunteer Coordinator and Area Director.

With Clyde’s passion and experience in sports, he created his own business, CSPN (Colorado Sports Program Network). He trained, recruited, assigned, and evaluated officials for several sports.

Clyde loved watching all sports, especially Brianna’s soccer and basketball games. He was an Eagle Scout, which explains his tendency to always be prepared, his passion for creating things with his tools and his never-ending love for being outside.

A Celebration of Life for Clyde will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. at the Elks 309 Lodge located at 3400 N. Nevada, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Association at: https://www.als.org/donate