ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Bill Thomas, the longtime president of CenLa FCU will be in the stands in Beijing’s "The Bird’s Nest" tomorrow cheering on his daughter-in-law in the 1,500 meter run–courtesy of his employees.
Co-workers, volunteers and members of the $75 million credit union secretly raised the $2,800 to send the boss and his son Patrick to the games after it became apparent that Patrick’s wife, Christin Wurth-Thomas, was going to qualify for the U.S. track team.
The 28-year-old Olympian met the younger Thomas at the University of Arkansas, where they both ran track. That’s where the couple make their home, in Springdale, Ark.
Thomas, father and son, flew out of Alexandria Friday and will be in the stands to see Wurth-Thomas run her first heat tomorrow morning.
Thomas, who has been at the credit union for 30 years, told co-workers and the board of his plans to take time off to go to the Games. That’s when the fundraising began.
