The Woodward Alumni Hall of Fame Association
Redus J. Thomas Inducted 2026 - Class of 2000
Command Sergeant Major Redus Thomas decided to join the United States Army while still a student at Woodward, enlisting in the Army Reserve as a high school junior under the Alternative Training Program. He attended Basic Training that March, returned to Woodward to finish his senior year, and after graduation, completed Advanced Individual Training before being assigned to the 389th Engineer Battalion in Decorah, IA.
Redus has served his country in various roles and built a career in US Army recruiting, beginning at the Highland Recruiting Station in Highland, IN, and advancing to Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Medical Recruiting Battalion in Fort Knox, KY. His decorated service includes a Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), the Recruiter Gold Badge with 3 sapphire stars, the Army’s Recruiter Ring, and the Glen E. Morrell Award for recruiting excellence. He has completed multiple military training programs, including the Sergeants Major Academy, and holds a bachelor’s in Social and Criminal Justice from Ashford University and a master’s in Criminal Justice, Homeland Security Administration from Tiffin University.
Redus is married to his high school sweetheart, Jessica (Forrille) Thomas ‘99; they have two daughters, Kylah and Lilyona.
Where did you attend grade school and/or junior high school? Riverside K-6 Leverette 7-8
In what neighborhood did you live while attending Woodward? Please describe it. North Side off of Bush and Erie St. Low income housing Vistula projects.
Who were your best friends while attending Woodward? Carl Whitlow, Vinay Thounsavath
Describe an important and/or humorous thing(s) that happened to you while you were at Woodward. There are too many humorous things to tell but I will say that out there somewhere somebody has a picture of Spirit Day with me winning cross dress day.
What are your present hobbies? What do you do for fun? Currently I enjoy golf, fishing, traveling, and spending time with my family.
Who were your favorite teachers at Woodward? Why? Mr. Ivan Dye for Math. I was never good at Math but Mr. Dye was the track coach and my teacher so he pushed me and helped me along so my grades stayed good and he coached me and made me a better runner. Mr. Crego for honors English and newspaper he pushed me to research topics of interest and write about them in the paper and during class it helped prepare me for college. There were a few other teachers that I really liked but I cannot remember their name
Did any Woodward staff members have a profound effect on you? Who? In what way did they affect you? Mr. Gring he volunteered to be a foster parent so my friend (wife now) and her sister did not have to be split up when they were removed from their parents home. I frequently visited him to talk about life after high school and visited their home to see my friend.
Please share one of your favorite memories of Woodward. I would have to say that the Track and Cross Country teams at Woodward through my high school years were great. The teams placed well, went on to regionals and states and everyone was like a big family. I also liked I believe it was my junior year I was able to win snowcoming prince.
Are you married? Please tell us about your family members-- children, grandchildren, etc. I am married to my high school sweetheart Jessica K. Thomas (Forille - class of 99) and we have been married for 22 years so far and have two daughters. Kylah (16) and Lilyona (13). We started a family after we were financially secure, owned a home, and would be able to provide without struggling. My mother had me at 15, my sister at 16, and my other sister at 17 and I had to help raise my siblings. We knew that we didn't want that for our children so we waited and planned. I travel a lot with my current job so my wife has to work around that schedule but we make it work.
How did you feel when you were informed of this honor? I was truly surprised with this honor. I had just landed in South Dakota and was in a rental car for work. I had my phone using CarPlay and the call started to come through. I typically only get spam calls from 419 area codes so I answered "YUP". Unless you say hi or hello, hola, etc the spam bot does not transfer the call to a live person. I said YUP a few times and Marisa was like is this Redus. I was like umm yes why? She was like well you were selected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Completely shocked me because I thought it was a spam call and then she said that so it really did not register in my brain until I received the email later on that night.