For 39 years, Joe Thomas chronicled Hancock County history in pictures as a freelance sports and news photographer for The Courier. Thomas’ first published picture was the 1960 YMCA fire, and he photographed nearly every sport imaginable, from auto racing to wrestling, scaling ladders and bleachers, hanging out windows, lying on floors or infields, wading through mud and snow to provide the best angle and action of his subjects. He logged countless hours capturing the successes of Hall of Famers Dave Sorenson, Harry Gonso, Jim & Jerry Carder, Julie Cole, Doug Martin, Peg Kirk Bell, Bill & Joe Faine, Spike Berry, Fred Hirsimaki and Tom Lacey, as well as a multitude of teams local, state and national championship play. Thomas also provided aerial photos for three decades. Thomas’ photography career began at a time when pictures were published a day later. He was the first person to develop film and have pictures engraved for publication. He began with 4x5 wet negative prints shot on a Graflex and progressed to Rolliflex 120 and then 35mm film. He used a pogo stick at times as a prop.
