Dennis Thomas

Her entire decadeslong career has been spent at Hampton University and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Thomas, retiring after 20 years as the MEAC commissioner, was critical in establishing the bowl game and the MEAC/SWAC Challenge

Instead of celebrating its 50th year as a conference, schools continue to opt out of competition

Top players like Mikey Williams have to join Maker at schools like Howard to create a trend

He was among six HBCU legends inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame

His life touched many people, his reporting chronicled many more

Black colleges see intrastate and regional rivals as better fit than ‘moneybag’ games