Fred Thomas, a 1952 Fairport graduate, was recently inducted into USA Track and Field’s Officials Hall of Fame during USATF’s annual meeting Dec. 7 in Orlando. Thomas hails from Johnstown, Ohio, about 35 minutes northeast of Columbus. He was selected as a Legacy Member representing USATF’s Ohio Association by the National Officials Committee, with the announcement coming in September. According to the USATF, “A Legend Hall of Fame member is an official who has been previously nominated and not inducted into the Hall of Fame and has exhausted his/her eligibility. One Legend inductee will be selected by the NOC Hall of Fame Committee each year.” Thomas was recognized along with two other officials, Pat Lavelle and Dan Pierce. He has also been honored as a 2016 USATF Outstanding Official and was the 2010 recipient of the USATF NOC’s Charles Ruter award, “given annually to an official that has given outstanding service throughout a career to the managing sports by taking officiating of running events to a higher level.”