James P. (Hippo) Thomas from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was a tackle on the 1938, 1939, and 1940 football teams which won 23, lost 7, and tied 1.

The 1938 team finished second in the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference and the 1940 team won the OCAC championship.

Thomas worked for Shell Oil Company for more than 33 years before retiring in 1982.

He died in 1995 in Houston, Texas.