Lloyd Thomas, a sergeant in the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Public Safety, was selected as the university’s representative in this year’s Ohio Valley Conference Hoops for Heroes initiative.
Thomas was recognized in a pregame on-court ceremony March 5 at the 2025 OVC Basketball Championships at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, with representatives from the other OVC member schools.
Thomas has served in the UT Martin Department of Public Safety since 2023. He previously worked as a deputy sheriff at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for a decade after spending nine years as an officer with the Memphis Police Department.
He also worked as a correctional officer at the Shelby County Division of Corrections (2002-03) and the Illinois Department of Corrections (2000-02).
Serving his country as a cavalry scout, Thomas served in the U.S. Army from 1993 to 1999, at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Riley, Kansas, before serving overseas at Schweinfurt, Germany. He helped provide humanitarian relief during Operation Desert Storm.
“I was really surprised,” he said of being named to represent UT Martin in the OVC Hoops for Heroes initiative. “I didn’t think that anyone thought of me like that. I was deeply honored to be selected.
“I love the UTM family, and it’s an honor to be a part of a family like that.”
The Hoops for Heroes initiative began in 2011 as a way to honor veterans from Ohio Valley Conference schools who have served in the military. This year, the project expanded to also honor first responders who serve in our member institution communities.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) of the OVC selects a representative from each member school and invites them to attend the OVC Basketball Championships. UT Martin members of the OVC SAAC for the 2024-25 school year include men’s basketball player David Kamwanga, volleyball player Mia Saenz, and rifle team member Alayna Walther.
Previous UT Martin Hoops for Heroes honorees include: Bill Kaler, 2011; Vincent Newsome, 2012; Wayne “Moe” Alexander 2013; Jenny Harrison, 2014; Ed Baker, 2015; Corey Scates, 2016; Terry Ward, 2017; Led Symmes, 2018; Marcus Vancleave, 2019; Joe Exum, 2020; Chuck Hammer, 2022; and Roy Wiley, 2023.
PHOTO: Shown at the 2025 Hoops for Heroes announcement March 5 during the Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championships in Evansville, Indiana, are (l-r) OVC Director of Compliance and Administration Katie Risewick; Mark Kattenbaker, Eastern Ilinois; Charles E. Johnson, Lindenwood; Jim Pitts, Little Rock; Jessica Harris, Morehead State; Jeff Crites, Southeast Missouri; Walter Chase, SIU Edwardsville; Bruno Martin, Southern Indiana; Briana Salters, Tennessee State; Mark Hills, Tennessee Tech; Lloyd Thomas, UT Martin; OVC Assistant Commissioner for Championships Colin Parker; and OVC Commissioner Dr. Beth DeBauche. Not pictured is Western Illinois University Hoops for Heroes representative Nick Severs.
