Rooting for the Redhawks

Though Terry Thomas, ‘67, played four years on Seattle University’s golf team, a pastime that remains a passion, his love is truly for the university and the experience it offers the campus community.

What drives his involvement, particularly when it comes to rooting for SU Athletics: He wants incoming generations to feel the same sense of belonging and excitement he felt as a student. In addition to supporting golf and attending all home basketball games, he is a stalwart follower of baseball, softball, soccer and the swim team.

“We had such a good time, there is no reason somebody else shouldn’t have a good time as well,” he says.

And Thomas’ life has intertwined with SU in more ways than just as student and then supporter.

During summer break from Seattle Prep he worked construction and helped in the building of Campion Hall, the residence hall where he would live while studying for his business degree.

After graduating Thomas served in the U.S. Coast Guard in both active and reserve capacity and pitched into the family transportation business, later specializing in shipping containers used to haul freight to Alaska, Hawai’i and Canada. At 78 years old he is going strong, leading his company, PNW Equipment Inc., still hitting the links when the weather allows and still a rock when it comes to pouring his passion into supporting SU teams.

It comes as no surprise that he has a special place in his heart for the golf team.

“Golf has always been very good to me,” he says. “It’s one of those games that is fun to play with other people and it’s fun to go out and play alone.”

He adds: “I’ve done more business on the golf course than sitting behind a desk.”

Thomas is quick to note that the team attracts students from around the world to form a tight-knit unit and he is especially proud of their academic achievements in challenging fields.

“That’s almost more important to me to see that happen,” he says. “It’s so much fun to watch them.”

He sees SU’s return in 2008 to Division I sports as a triumph. Further, he sees his goal as encouraging alumni who may not have had the experience of annually following a men’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament to come back into the fold to help financially support their Redhawks.

“I’m a believer in the way we are doing it,” he says. “It’s fabulous.”