Career
A versatile athlete, he was successful at 100 metres through 400 metres, holding the World Youth best for 100 metres (for over 10 years), set in a race 7 days after he set the world Youth best in the 400 metres. He is the only athlete to simultaneously appear in both the 100m and 400m top lists. The 1983 relay was a "come from behind" race passing Danny Harris on the final straightaway.
The time of that 1984 victory is still ranked #3, and 1983 is ranked #4 on the all-time list.
His 100 metres record was beaten by Hawthorne"s Curtis Conway who played in the NFL, and the 200 metres record was beaten by Kareem Kelly who also played in the NFL. Joining Thomas on that team, as the "slow" newcomer was future Olympic gold medalist Mike Marsh. Shortly after the record, Thomas suffered from appendicitis, requiring surgery.
In 2010, Marsh, Thomas, Michael Graham and Sean Kelly joined together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the record. His best attempt to make an Olympic team came at age 21, when he finished 7th in 1988 Olympic Trials at 200m representing Santa Monica Track Club.
He went to University of California, Los Angeles where he is ranked #2 all time in the 200 metres, #3 in the 100 metres and #7 in the 400 metres.
Every person ranked ahead of him, except newcomer Craig Everhart, is an Olympic medalist or world record holder. Later in 1988, after failing to make the Olympics himself, he tried out for the University of California, Los Angeles football team At the time he said (in third person) "I"m getting older now and making my own decisions, and this is something Henry wants to do."
Thomas was arrested and later was convicted following a June 29, 1991 robbery and assault at a Los Angeles fast food restaurant.
He did not get to compete at the 1992 Olympic Trials.
He served 10 years in prison.
