20 Jun 2012 COUPLES: Al and Sancy Thomas
Al and Sancy Thomas met in college and both were counselors at at Kanakuk Kamp in Branson several summers during college. The two share a love of being on the water in the 501.
Al Thomas
City: Heber Springs.
Native of: Clarkedale, just north of Marion (Crittenden County).
Where did you grow up: Graduated Marion High School.
Education: B.S. in civil engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; M.S. in environmental engineering, The University of Texas at Austin; J.D., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Job: Tilley & Thomas, Attorneys at Law, Heber Springs.
Parents: A. Jan Thomas Jr. and Fritzi Thomas of Clarkedale.
Community activities: Heber Springs School District’s Board of Education; coach for girls U10 soccer; men’s fraternity; elected to the Arkansas Bar Association House of Delegates; Rotary Club of Heber Springs.
Church activities: Teach Sunday school for second- and third-graders; Leader-College Ready.
Hobbies/special interests: Golf, turkey hunting and wake boarding.
How would you describe yourself: Advocate.
Favorite restaurant in the 501: Doe’s Eat Place.
Most enjoyed weekend activity: Out on Greers Ferry Lake with family and friends.
Favorite quote: Be prepared (Boy Scout motto).
What do you love about living in the 501: Raising our kids in Heber Springs. We think of it as small town Americana. People know each other. Boy Scouts put flags on Main Street during holidays, and it has a great community feel.
Sancy Pascoe Thomas
City: Heber Springs.
Native of: Conway.
Education: Conway High School, University of Arkansas.
Job: Homemaker.
Parents: Phillip and Beverly Pascoe from Conway. They now live in Naples, Fla., and in the Greers Ferry Lake area.
Community activities: Trainer for The Call of Cleburne County; coordinator/ministry leader of the Shoe Project in Heber Springs schools; volunteer at Heber Springs Elementary School.
Church activities: Teach Sunday school for second- and third-graders, Leader-College Ready; facilitator – Women’s Bible Study; volunteer for children’s Wednesday service.
Hobbies/special interests: Going to my four daughters’ sporting events, wake surfing, walking/running with friends.
How would you describe yourself: God’s child who is a work in process.
Favorite restaurant in the 501: Spunky Pig.
Most enjoyed weekend activity: Out on the boat with my family and teaching others to wake surf and wakeboard.
What do you love about living in the 501: I love the true community feel of Heber Springs. We moved to the Heber Springs area six years ago for the summer after we sold our house. We just never moved back.
Them
How we met: At college, Al washed Sancy’s dishes at the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house. Al was a house-boy that washed dishes, didn’t buy groceries for two years of college, got dates and found a wife.
The proposal: Sancy had finished finals in December. Al flew up from Austin, Texas, and surprised her to go rappelling on White Rock Mountain on her way home from Fayetteville after finals. A
fter finishing a couple of rappels down a bluff, Al had a ring ready when Sancy hiked back up to the top and told Sancy he loved her for the first time.
Wedding bells: Aug. 4, 1990, First Baptist Church, Conway.
Children: Four daughters – Savannah, 18, who will be attending the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; Alison, 15; Lilly, 11; and Sterling, 9.
Pets: Too many (says Al) – Two cats (Bryce and Matthew), three dogs (Holly, D-Mac and Clover), four horses (Ty, Robbie, Blue’s Clues and Midnight) and one fish (Button).
Family activities enjoyed together: Out on the boat and going to everyone’s athletic events (soccer, cheer, basketball, track and hunter/jumper horse shows). We grew up water skiing, but none of our daughters really know how to ski. They can wake board, wake surf and wake skate instead.
Other information: Sancy and Al were both counselors at Kanakuk Kamp in Branson several summers during college. “We are thankful that our daughters have the opportunity to be campers at a great summer camp that had a profound impact on our lives.”
