Deejay PT’s message: ‘Get #LIVIN’’
Paul Thomas — also known as “PT,” a Twin Cities radio personality — expected Jan. 21, 2013 to be one of the most memorable days of his life.
Thomas had coached his Jefferson youth hockey team, ages 9 and 10, to what was one of his ultimate goals — a 4-0 win over archrival Edina.
“I called the person who meant the most to me … my dad,” said Thomas. His father, he said, had been “super supportive” of Thomas and his team, coming to practices, games and generally being the team’s best cheerleader.
His father couldn’t be there for that ultimate game, but he offered supportive words to his son: “I love you. I’m super proud of you. Congratulations.”
“That’s the last time I ever spoke to him,” Thomas told a hushed crowd of junior students at Glencoe-Silver Lake last Thursday morning.
Three hours later, still celebrating, Thomas got a call from the Bloomington Police Department informing him that his father had been in an accident — an accident with a gun.
“I’m thinking, ‘how could this be?’ My dad was a world-class skeet shooter. There is no way he would have an accident,” said Thomas.
And it wasn’t an accident. Thomas’ father had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“That’s why I remember Jan. 21: not because we beat Edina, but because I lost my dad.”
For more about Thomas' message, see the May 16 print edition of The Chronicle.
