Oregon State Hall of Famer Aaron Thomas Passes

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State great Aaron Thomas passed away at the age of 86 at his home in Corvallis after a long illness.
 
Thomas lettered at Oregon State for three seasons (1958-60) as a tight end for the football team and helped lead the Beavers to a win at Oregon in 1959.
 
Following his college career he played in the East-West Shrine Game, College All-Star Game, Coaches All-America Bowl and the Senior Bowl.
 
Thomas was inducted into the State of Oregon Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Oregon State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
 
Oregon State Hall of Fame coach Tommy Prothro, who guided the Beavers to a 10-year (1955-64) mark of 63-37-2, called Thomas the best tight end he ever coached.
 
Thomas was selected in the fourth round of the 1961 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and played wide receiver for a year before being traded to the New Yorks Giants after the first two games of the 1962 season.
 
He played tight end for the Giants until his retirement in 1970 and was one of the best receiving players at his position. He is currently 17th in franchise history with 254 receptions, 14th with 4,253 yards and tied for sixth with 35 touchdown catches.

His son, Robb Thomas, was a standout wide receiver at Oregon State from 1985-88 and finished his college career with 3,379 all-purpose yards. Robb Thomas played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawk and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
 
Aaron Thomas served as the assistant director of the Beaver Club from 1983-89.

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