Faith, Goals and Poop? Kick Start Author and NCAA Record Holder Tom Thompson | Episode 63
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On November 14, 2009, Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II kicked his way into the record books. At age 61, he became the oldest football player in NCAA history and the oldest NCAA football player to score a point when he kicked the PAT (Point After Touchdown) in the second quarter of the game between Austin College and Trinity University. Thompson details his remarkable accomplishment in his inspiring autobiography, Kick Start.
At an age when most people are contemplating retirement, Thompson earned the first of numerous academic degrees. Through the process of earning a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and ultimately a doctorate, Thompson realized the power of setting goals and striving to reach them. But he also recognized that not all goals are created equal.
“Have you ever achieved a goal, but then didn’t experience that long-term sense of fulfillment you were expecting?” Thompson asks. “That happens when you set a goal that is not tied to a core value. When you set a goal that is tied to a core value, you have a greater chance of gaining lasting fulfillment, and it has the added benefit of affecting a whole lot more people than just yourself.”
Dr. Emmet C. (Tom) Thompson II, D.S.L., M.S., M.A., entered the health and fitness industry after a 20-year career in commercial real estate. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from LeTourneau University, a Master of Science Degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Texas, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, and a Doctor of Strategic Leadership Degree from Regent University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching from Austin College.
Dr. Thompson is an active researcher with numerous co-authored articles in peer reviewed academic journals. He has co-authored the books Fit To Lead(St. Martin’s Press) and Kick Start (Carpenter’s Son Publishing). In addition to his writing, Dr. Thompson also lectures to both lay and academic groups. A former Board of Advisors member of the American Council on Martial Arts,