Faith propelled Thomas to kicker, judicial success
HUNTLEY — Two dozen Chicago Bears fans came prepared to hear a talk from a popular NFL field goal kicker. They showed their interest and support by wearing Bears hats, sweatshirts and brought items from footballs to photos for Bob Thomas to autograph.
Thomas and “A View from Two Benches” author Doug Feldmann, an Algonquin native spoke about the book and Thomas’s career to the group at Huntley Public Library March 4.
Thomas told of the bright spots of his 10-year NFL career with the Bears, which included a field goal for an overtime win over the New York Giants the week before Christmas in 1977. Then he pursued a successful career in the judiciary, including a three-year tenure as chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. But as Feldmann said in his introduction of Thomas, a firm faith in God’s plan saw the Rochester, New York native through the tough times.
Thomas joined the Bears after being named to the Los Angeles Rams roster in 1975. The Bears claimed him off from the waiver procedure. The first season saw almost an 80 percent turnover in the players from 1974 after Jack Pardee was named head coach. Thomas booted a 55-yard field goal as a rookie.
Fast forward to that fateful day at the Meadowlands, against the New York Giants on Dec. 18, 1977. “The field was very icy, as TV commentator Paul Horning said, the worst he has seen. Fortunately I was able to plant my left foot,” Thomas recalled.
With the overtime clash tied at 9-9, the kick was far from perfect, a “dying quail” as Thomas described. But it cleared the crossbar and Thomas was mobbed in celebration. The kick sent the Bears to the playoffs for the first time since 1963. He explained the kick as the best moment of his career.
When his Bears career had ended, Thomas had made four field goals of 50-yards plus; 151 of 239 field goals, 63.2 % and 303 of 330 extra points, 92 %. The soccer style kicker set the team record for points scored at that time when he reached 542 points Sept. 9, 1984.
The ‘77 kick was his second big-time game winner. Four years earlier, his field goal bested Alabama to give Notre Dame a Sugar Bowl win and a National Championship over Alabama, 24-23.
“With the Bears, it was more because of my faith life,” he said of his approach to pressure kicks.
“This fall we will have a celebration for the 50-year anniversary,” Thomas said of the Irish. “He beat out some other contenders for the Irish’s kicking job, as he would likewise have to do as a pro. “During the summer if I missed a kick, I would just tell coach Ara Paregshian that I missed it. Coach appreciated that honesty and gave me a scholarship my sophomore year. Attending Notre Dame was a big sacrifice for my parents, Augie and Anne.”
“I’m the only player to be fired by Mike Ditka twice,” Thomas joked of the Bears’ former head coach. Those events happened in 1982, a players’ strike year in the NFL and in 1985, prior to the Bears’ Super Bowl championship. In 1985, he lost out to rookie Kevin Butler. Ditka later supported Thomas for his bids for judge and wrote the forward for Feldmann’s book.
There was still that day in summer, 1985 when Thomas’s faith was tested.
“I remember in 1985 when the Bears drafted a placekicker from Georgia, Butler,” said Thomas. “Coach Ditka, after the pre-season, told me I was being cut. He did not even look me in the eye, but told me this isn’t fair or just. He said it was not his pick,” Thomas said. “I went to the locker room, to gather my equipment because I knew I would kick again. Then one of my best friends, the great Walter Payton, was there sitting on railroad ties and he held my hand and let me cry into his chest. That was my worst moment in football because I had a great year in 1984 and the Bears were on the eve of something great but I would not be a part of it.”
Thomas told several funny stories as well as the serious one with Payton. Who died of a rare liver condition in 1999. These included photos of “Sweetness” and his famous “training hill” in Mississippi.
There were tidbits from the post-football and campaign life.
“I was in a sports card shop after my football career with my children and noticed my rookie card was on the top shelf,” said the Bears’ No. 16. “Then I noticed they were selling it for 50 cents. I played 10 years in the NFL for my rookie card to sell for 50 cents,” he joked.
In running for Illinois Supreme Court, he forgot about a parade in Lombard. “My secretary said, ‘how was the Lombard Lilac Parade’,” she said. “Then I realized I forgot I was to be the grand marshal, but I called the organizer to apologize. The next event I received a Cowboy hat, “Grand Marshal” but they later supported me.”
Although winning his first race by about 300 votes, he went on to win election to the Illinois Supreme Court with 60 and 80 percent of the vote. Now 70, the father of three with his wife Maggie, retired from his second bench and returned to private law practice.
