Your name: Don Thomas Your job: The Print Shop Your age (and Birth Date): 38; Oct. 16, 1966 Your hometown: Portales. Your family: My Parents; Leroy & Gaynelle, two sisters; Cozetta & Thom Moore (they have 4 kids & 2 grandkids) Alowetta & Marc Terrien (3 kids, no grandkids) and one brother; Stan & Lorna Thomas (3 kids). Your Hobbies and groups you are involved with, volunteer work: I’m a Member of the Portales Rotary Club, Board Member-Curry/Roosevelt County United Way, part of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, PR Board Member-NM Christian Children’s Home, working with the teens at Central Christian Church. I enjoy playing my guitar with buddies, golf, snow skiing, reading, writing, sports broadcasting and music of all kinds. What do you think of Portales? “The sign outside of town is right, there’s a bunch of great people, and a few old grouches but this town is great!” What do you visualize your life being like in 10 years? “I hope to be married with a couple of kids. I want to be a Youth Minister again, or a minister of some sort, and growing old here in exciting P’ville!” Tell us about your parents: “Everyone in town knows my parents, Leroy and Gaynelle Thomas. They’ve given many years to this community. I’m proud that my Mom works with all the organizations that she does and still remembers BUNCHES of people’s birthdays and anniversaries. My Dad is always friendly to everyone and has taught me about small town economics, about being a Godly husband, being a friend and how to be an example to everyone that you encounter. They’re the best parents I could ever ask for!” Who is someone you admire in life? Why? “I had great role models growing up. I looked up to people like Marlin & Frank Poynor, Jack Self, Bruce Blackaby and also people like Tom Landry & Roger Staubach. As I’ve grown up, I find myself looking towards people like Rod Self, John Snowberger, Coach Elliot, Leo Lovett, Pam Stevens, Gary Simpson and Keith Durham for advice and example. However, my biggest role model is my Dad, Leroy. If I can grow up to be half the man he is, I will have done well.” What is your greatest hope? “I wish we could all wake up to what a gift we have been given in Grace. Too often, our selfishness and pride keeps us from experiencing the great adventure in our walk with God. We let traditions drag us down. I hope we can get passed that and look at people from different denominations and backgrounds as brothers and sisters because it’s not about us, it’s about Him.” If money were no object, what would you do to make the world a better place? “I would put in an indoor swimming pool at the Christian Children’s Home. I would make sure our schools were fully equipped and staffed with caring and compassionate teachers. I would quadruple the pay of firefighters and policemen. ENMU would get a retractable roof stadium in town, and Roosevelt General Hospital would get any type of medical equipment they needed or wanted. Also, I would outlaw all Shaq movies, Madonna music and feminine hygiene product TV commercials — that’ s bound to do some good.” Tell us about your greatest individual accomplishment: “Anything good that I have done has been because I’m surrounded by a great family, fantastic friends, and an amazing God. I’m most pleased with the fact that I was able to be a Youth Minister and was part of some kids coming to know Jesus. I hope to be able to do that again one day.” When you were a kid, what did you think you would be doing as an adult? “I thought I would be an elementary teache. I always wanted to teach at L.L. Brown school back when they had all six grades at one school. I even had a house picked out near the school. I thought I would teach all day and grade papers on the coffee table at night with a wife and a couple of rugrats.” If I could do anything, I would. “I would be a snow skiing instructor by day and a Youth Minister by night. Not quite a super hero ... but still a bunch of fun!” What is your favorite TV show? Why do you relate to it? “When I was younger, there were several of us really into ‘Miami Vice.’ Yes, it’s embarrassing now, but back then it was ULTRA cool. Now, I don’t watch too much TV but I really like the writing for ‘24.’ It has a lot of action and suspense which is better than anything I’ve seen in years.” What is your favorite book and why? “Everyone says the Bible, and I totally agree but I really appreciate the book of James because it’s so practical. I also like the book of Romans because it talks about Christianity being more than just a religion. It’s a relationship. I always liked ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ too. It’s a bit weird but it kind of fits me.” If you could go on an adventure, what would it entail? “There is a ski run in Jackson Hole, Wyoming called Corbet’s Couliour. It’s the number one rated ski run, for difficulty, in the world. I want to ski it before I die. I also want to go to Italy. I want to see the canals in Venice, the architecture in Rome and the artwork in Florence.” What is your favorite smell? “The wood of a fresh ash bat, the leather of a glove and fresh cut green grass on the opening day of baseball season. Truly, my nostrils are in heaven on that day.” What is your favorite song? Why? “I’m sort of a Classic Rock buff. A couple of my favorites are ‘I’m Alive’ from Jackson Browne and ‘Don’t Look Back’ by Boston. My favorite artist is James Taylor. ‘Fire and Rain’ is my favorite of his.” Tell about a time your were nervous: “It would probably be the first time I played my guitar in public. It was last year at the Do Drop In. I played with Andy Mason, and I was quivering. Since then, I’ve become more comfortable because now, I don’t shake as much.” If you could redo one moment in life, what would it be? Why? “The time I lost my best friend. I still miss her.” Name one thing you like about yourself. Why? “I’ve always liked my energy level. I try to put out a lot of effort, and I hope it shows. I guess I got that from my parents. They taught me to be a volunteer, that’s what makes a small town special. There’s plenty of others in town like that and for that, I’m glad.” — Compiled by Laurie Stone