TRUE TO THE BLUE

Buddy Thomas began his sports writing career in June of 1966 with the Standard Times in New Bedford, MA, two weeks after fulfilling a two-year military obligation with a 10-month stint in Vietnam. While serving with the 1st Infantry division in Vietnam, Buddy served as a combat reporter and was embedded with various units under the "Big Red One", compiling notes and writing stories that were shared with civilian newspaper reporters covering the war. When he wasn't embedded with those units, he would return to base camp and escort various dignitaries who were in the country visiting the various fighting forces. The list included Bob Hope, Ann Margaret, Hugh O'Brien and Miss USA – Dianna Lynn Batts (1965). Following his discharge, Buddy joined a four-man sports staff at the Standard Times where he covered high school sports over a 40-year full-time career. He was the newspaper's first sportswriter to cover the New England (Boston) Patriots and Boston Celtics home and playoff games and did feature stories on the Boston Red Sox. But his love was covering the 10-12 high schools throughout the four decades of his full-time writing career and the 10 years of part-time work that followed. He was presented numerous awards by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) over his writing career and has been honored by several of the schools he covered. A widower since 1991, Buddy is the father of three children (Mike, Kristen and Sue) who have collectively presented him with five grandchildren (Kyle, Kathryn, Lily, Brooke and Abby) – all of whom are currently in college. Although he authored several sports series about high school athletes and legendary coaches over the years, this is Buddy's first published book.