Thousands Remember Thomas
Thousands of people attended a memorial service for Derrick Thomas today, singing gospel tributes and remembering some of the lighthearted moments of his life.
"It will always be 58 degrees at Arrowhead," said former mayor Emanuel Cleaver Jr., referring to the Kansas City linebacker's jersey number, which was displayed in lights on a scoreboard at Kemper Arena.
Among the mourners were state legislative leaders and Missouri's congressional delegation. Scheduled speakers included NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, as well as Chiefs teammates.
On Monday, Thomas' open casket sat in Arrowhead Stadium's east end zone, near the spot where he once sacked John Elway and recovered a fumble for a touchdown that clinched a playoff berth.
Bundled against a cold February wind, 22,750 fans walked single file and two-by-two down the stadium steps and into a white tent where a spray of roses sat next to the casket. Thomas' body was dressed in a light gray business suit.
The nine-time All-Pro linebacker who died Feb. 8 of complications from a traffic accident.
A B-2 Stealth bomber flew over the stadium as a tribute to the son of an Air Force pilot who never returned from Vietnam.
For the flyover, almost everyone who works for the Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, general manager Carl Peterson, coaches, secretaries and maintenance men stood silently on the field facing the tent.
"This is the saddest day in Kansas City sports history," said Steve Warczakoski of Kansas City, Kan. "My favorite football player of all time."
One woman carried her 9-month-old daughter down the steps.
"Someday she'll be able to say she was here," the woman said.
Thomas was just a few weeks past his 33rd birthday when his Chevrolet Suburban skidded on an icy highway Jan. 23 and flipped several times. The crash killed his best friend and left one of the NFL's most feared pass rushers paralyzed from the chest down.
Thomas and his friend were both thrown from the car. A third passenger, the only one in the car wearing his seat belt, walked away with minor injuries.
"I've got Derrick's No. 58 taped to my steering wheel," said Darren Bradley of Raymore, Mo., who took a day off work to pay his respects. "Every time I turn the ignition key I'll think of Derrick and I'll buckle up."
The nine-time All-Pro was transferred to a hospital in his hometown of Miami and was said to be improving. But on Feb. 8 a blood clot in his legs created a pulmonary embolism that killed him almost instantly.
Since that day, fans have gathered at a candlelight vigil, created a memorial of poems and flowers at Arrowhead's wrought iron gates and donated more than $25,000 to his Third and Long Foundation, which encourages youngsters to read.
Among the mourners onday was Fred Patek, a star shortstop for the Kansas City Royals during many of their glory years in the 1970s.
His daughter Kim was paralyzed in an accident in 1992 not far from Thomas' crash. Kim Patek had no insurance, and a big part of the expenses until she died three years later was paid for by fans' donations and events like charity basketball games between Chiefs and Royals players.
"What I think back to most of all is how this community comes together and all the beautiful people there are in this town," Patek said. "All the things they did for me and all the things you see now, what's happening."
He stopped to wipe a tear.
"It kind of stirs up a lot of things in my past. But I guess the thing most of all it really hit me you can't believe."
He could say no more. He apologized and vanished into the crowd.
©2000 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed