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Post by thebigdawg on Jan 11, 2021 15:24:50 GMT -5
Sad to see the University move on from a campus legend like Larry Thomas. Seems to be a good bit of outrage over the circumstances. Larry served the campus for 43 years with Campus Police.
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Post by gwebb1994 on Jan 11, 2021 18:44:24 GMT -5
Details bigdawg? Larry is a legend. Always approachable and respected by all.
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Post by thebigdawg on Jan 11, 2021 21:31:51 GMT -5
He’s been fighting cancer and the treatments have taken a toll. Caused him to be unable to pass the police certification needed to remain at University Police. Was supposedly told he could continue working doing things that didn’t require the certification. Golf cart rides, lockouts, admin, etc. Walked into the office last week and was fired. No acknowledgement of his 43 years served faithfully to the university.
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Post by gwebb1994 on Jan 11, 2021 22:47:46 GMT -5
Welp, if true, that thud you heard was me jumping off the Downs train. Just another soulless liberal elitist piece of trash.
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Post by notsofast on Jan 12, 2021 13:11:34 GMT -5
Welp, if true, that thud you heard was me jumping off the Downs train. Just another soulless liberal elitist piece of trash. Well at least you didn't overreact... |
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Post by gwebb1994 on Jan 12, 2021 16:23:33 GMT -5
Welp, if true, that thud you heard was me jumping off the Downs train. Just another soulless liberal elitist piece of trash. Well at least you didn't overreact... I wrote IF TRUE. I know GW recently hired a HR VP, maybe he's trying to make a splash. I'll gladly retract the statement 1000% and apologize if the facts prove otherwise. Well, axing a 43 year employee and alumnus who's in a fight of his life against cancer, and likely loses his health coverage is sure as hell not a good look. 1000 times worse than having a crooked car dealer chairing your BOT, which I believe both of them have rotated off the board now, which is a plus. I'm sure GW will keep the lid tight on it to prevent a lawsuit. There are plenty who lurk who know what happened, the truth will come out eventually. |
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Post by gwebb1994 on Jan 12, 2021 18:41:45 GMT -5
Facebook is peppered with reactions, but no real details about the why....makes you wonder if they even told Larry why. Somebody had better wake the hell up over at Webb Hall.
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Post by gwebb1994 on Jan 15, 2021 19:25:29 GMT -5
Well, after hearing both sides, it still doesn't excuse GW whatsoever in how they handled this situation. Our alumni base doesn't donate much to begin with compared to other schools, but GW can expect some of their donating alumni to close their wallets, and deservedly so.
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Post by gwebb1994 on Jan 24, 2021 15:25:09 GMT -5
A copy and paste from the GW Facebook page, in comments section to a regular post......
Attention Gardner-Webb College/University Alumni and Friends , as you probably have heard, Larry Thomas -- the world's greatest campus security officer -- was recently dismissed unceremoniously by the university after more than four decades of stellar service.
Many of you, like me, aren't happy about that -- and some concerned alumni want to do something public to show how much Larry means to them.
There will be a peaceful march through beautiful downtown Boiling Springs starting at 11 am Saturday, Jan. 30. This march/rally will be properly permitted by the Town of Boiling Springs based on a route suggested by the police chief.
The march route will be released on Monday.
We're asking all alumni and current students to march in support of Larry. We're also asking that you help us spread word of the event to as many GWC/GWU people you can.
In addition, if you'd like to say a few loving words about Larry, please let me know so I can schedule speakers. Tasteful posters and signs are welcome during the march. Marchers must wear masks and practice social distancing throughout the event.
If you have any questions, please comment on this post. And feel free to tag your friends here.
Thank you for your consideration and participation! #justiceforlarry
PS We'll be alerting local businesses and restaurants of the event. Please consider support them with your business. Thank you!
The more I have thought about it, I can also bet canning Larry like they did had something to do with getting Covid money from the government. Just a hunch.
I support the march, but it isn't going to do any good, GW isn't going to make any statement on it, and obviously they can't due to legal ramifications. Downs's background is 100% in the public university sector, not in the small college setting where alumni interaction and donations are more important. The Marion family can't finance the entire operation in perpetuity. Maybe he'll get a nice slab of humble pie and learn from this debacle. Our alumni donation rate is pathetic to begin with anyway, even if just 10%-15% close their wallets because of this, its going to leave a mark.
The real eye-opening thing in all of this is how the actual town has reacted. Messages of support for Larry on business signs, etc. The relationship between Boiling Springs and GW has always been tight, to see it get damaged through this is bad, real bad.
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Post by thebigdawg on Jan 25, 2021 13:56:51 GMT -5
A copy and paste from the GW Facebook page, in comments section to a regular post...... Attention Gardner-Webb College/University Alumni and Friends , as you probably have heard, Larry Thomas -- the world's greatest campus security officer -- was recently dismissed unceremoniously by the university after more than four decades of stellar service.
Many of you, like me, aren't happy about that -- and some concerned alumni want to do something public to show how much Larry means to them.
There will be a peaceful march through beautiful downtown Boiling Springs starting at 11 am Saturday, Jan. 30. This march/rally will be properly permitted by the Town of Boiling Springs based on a route suggested by the police chief.
The march route will be released on Monday.
We're asking all alumni and current students to march in support of Larry. We're also asking that you help us spread word of the event to as many GWC/GWU people you can.
In addition, if you'd like to say a few loving words about Larry, please let me know so I can schedule speakers. Tasteful posters and signs are welcome during the march. Marchers must wear masks and practice social distancing throughout the event.
If you have any questions, please comment on this post. And feel free to tag your friends here.
Thank you for your consideration and participation! #justiceforlarry
PS We'll be alerting local businesses and restaurants of the event. Please consider support them with your business. Thank you!The more I have thought about it, I can also bet canning Larry like they did had something to do with getting Covid money from the government. Just a hunch. I support the march, but it isn't going to do any good, GW isn't going to make any statement on it, and obviously they can't due to legal ramifications. Downs's background is 100% in the public university sector, not in the small college setting where alumni interaction and donations are more important. The Marion family can't finance the entire operation in perpetuity. Maybe he'll get a nice slab of humble pie and learn from this debacle. Our alumni donation rate is pathetic to begin with anyway, even if just 10%-15% close their wallets because of this, its going to leave a mark. The real eye-opening thing in all of this is how the actual town has reacted. Messages of support for Larry on business signs, etc. The relationship between Boiling Springs and GW has always been tight, to see it get damaged through this is bad, real bad. Good stuff here 1994. Not being in Boiling Spring anymore I thought that Downs had made a positive impact on the University and done a lot of good. A few weeks before the Larry Thomas news came down I spoke with some residents and their refrain about Downs was similar that the place is being run like a business. A cold hearted business where everything comes down to performance and the dollar. |
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Post by gwebb1994 on Feb 9, 2021 20:18:23 GMT -5
And just as predicted, absolute silence. It's been well over a month, and absolutely zero reaction. The GW Facebook page still has people reacting, but it isn't being acknowledged.
Some advice, the bubbly students that phone alumni for donations had best be careful and prepared for alot of buckshot coming back through the telephone at them during their next phone drive.
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Post by gwebb1994 on Feb 13, 2021 22:30:01 GMT -5
Well, I was wrong, Jennifer Marion Mills is still BOT chairperson for at least one more year, therefore absolutely no surprise nothing has been done regarding Larry. Pathetic, but not unexpected when you have a sleazy crooked car dealer in charge of the business decisions of your institution.
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Post by gwebb1994 on Sept 16, 2022 17:36:32 GMT -5
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Post by FacStaff on Sept 20, 2022 22:44:20 GMT -5
There seems to be a pattern. |
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Post by gwebb1994 on Sept 1, 2023 9:26:32 GMT -5
Sad news, Larry Thomas passed away yesterday 8/31/23.
I’m sure Downs is happy now.
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