The Sacred Acre: The Ed Thomas Story [Hardcover]

Mark Tabb (Author), Tony Dungy (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 6, 2011

On a Sunday in May 2008, an F-5 tornado struck the town of Parkersburg, Iowa, killing eight people and destroying 250 homes and businesses within 34 seconds. The next day, Parkersburg's beloved football coach, Ed Thomas, made a stunning prediction: 'God willing, we will play our first home game here on this field this season.' One hundred days later, the home team scored a victory on the field they dubbed 'The Sacred Acre,' serving as a galvanizing point for the town to band together and rebuild. But just as Parkersburg was recovering, another devastating tragedy struck. While working with a group of football and volleyball players early one morning, one of Ed's former students walked in and gunned him down point blank. Ed Thomas was 58. The murder of this hometown hero spread across national news headlines. Ed's community and family reeled from shock. Yet the story doesn't end here. What happened next proves that even a double tragedy is no match for faith, love ... and the power of forgiveness.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Tabb has authored or coauthored more than twenty books including Mistaken Identity (Howard/Simon andamp; Schuster Books), which hit the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists the same week in April 2008.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310332192
• ISBN-13: 978-0310332190
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! August 19, 2011

By Kent W. Stock

Format:Kindle Edition

I pre-ordered the book so that I had it on the first day of its release. I put my daughters to bed and started to read it at 9:30 p.m. I was going to try to get through it over the next week. At 3:30 a.m. I finished the book. I couldn't stop reading.

I was absolutley inspired by the outstanding job that Mark Tabb did in capturing this story. It hit on every emotion. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, and cried again. Coach Thomas' story of Faith, Family, and Football, relates to everyone. Everyone can live by his legacy of Faith, Family, and then you can insert what your passion is instead for football. Coach Thomas would be counting on all of us to inspire and be a leader!

I am sure it was very difficult for the Thomas family to share their life stories with millions, but the legacy this book leaves will definitely impact millions of peoples lives forever.....I know it has impacted my life!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars How just one person can truly make a difference...... August 30, 2011

By D. Burns

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am from Parkersburg, Iowa, the small town in Iowa known nationwide for several things. We have had 4 of our boys playing in the NFL, May 2008 an EF5 tornado ripped thru and destroyed a big part of our town and our Coach was murdered working with the kids that respected him so much. Having lived thru so much of what is written in this book, I am amazed how this author could put together such a true and accurate story of a man who led Parkersburg thru good times and thru bad. Even if you had never heard of all the tragedy that was faced in this town, it will tug at your heart. It makes you feel some of what we all really felt going thru those bad times. Having so much faith and passing it on without people even realizing it gave Coach and his family the ability to be such strong leaders for our community. A great lesson is within these pages along with a story of a teacher and football coach who was content to live in a small town and lead our young people into adulthood with good work ethics and the thought that you always remember where you came from. A must read for all ages.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Men and women, alike, will love this book August 21, 2011

By SarahK

Format:Hardcover

I first heard of Ed Thomas and his family while watching the 2010 Espy Awards and have been intrigued by Ed Thomas and his family ever since. My husband and I recently finished reading Coach Thomas' biography, The Sacred Acre, and can't stop talking about him and his family. What we love most about this book is the many themes throughout. This book is a story about faith, family, forgiveness, football, friendship, loyalty, character, adversity, and pride. Men, women, and teenagers would benefit from reading this book.

Thank you to the family for sharing Coach Thomas' story with strangers like ourselves and the rest of the world. The intimate details on the day Coach Thomas died are heart-wrenching and it could not have been easy to share those with the world. Both Ed's life and his family's response to his death are so inspirational and have motivated me to be a better Christian, mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, mentor, and overall person. I know I am only one in a long, long line of people who have been motivated by Coach Thomas to be a better person, and I also know that I certainly will not be the last.