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"We Didn't Know He Was Clarence Thomas"
NBC Washington ^ | 6/2/09 | CARISSA DIMARGO and CHRIS GORDON

Posted on 06/02/2009 3:45:41 PM PDT by mgstarr

Justice Thomas -- who otherwise never misses court -- skipped a SCOTUS session to speak at the graduation of his travel companions.

High school seniors Terrence Stephens and Jason Ankrah, star football players at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md., were sitting on a plane returning from a recruitment session at the University of Nebraska when they struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to them.

Their seat-mate just happened to be a major Cornhuskers fan.

When they started chatting, Stephens and Ankrah didn't have a clue they were holding court with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

"I was amazed this guy knew so much about us as football players and as people," said Stephens. "That was shocking. I felt honored to be known by someone of his caliber. He was just a regular old guy, sitting in coach, which really shocked me."

By the time the plane landed, the students had figured out who Thomas was, and they promptly told their principal they wanted to invite Thomas to give the keynote speech at their high school graduation. Of course, Principal Carole Working didn't exactly think Thomas would take them up on it. But he showed up at the high school on Monday.

"These young men had no idea who I was as I formed my first impression. I was just another stranger to them. They were wonderful ambassadors for your school and for their fellow students," said Thomas at the Quince Orchard graduation ceremony.

When Stephens and Ankrah arrived on-stage to receive their diplomas, they were both embraced by Justice Thomas.

Ankrah will be playing football for Nebraska next year, but Stephens will be attending Stanford. The justice said he doesn't have any hard feelings over that.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: clarencethomas; highschool; supremecourt; thomas
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1 posted on 06/02/2009 3:45:41 PM PDT by mgstarr
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To: mgstarr

that is so cool


2 posted on 06/02/2009 3:47:39 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys--Reagan and Bush)
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To: mgstarr

Class act.


3 posted on 06/02/2009 3:48:00 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: mgstarr

What a great story.


4 posted on 06/02/2009 3:48:06 PM PDT by synbad600
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To: mgstarr

NBC actually reported this? Wow. Some story editor is going to get fired.
Justice Thomas is a great American.


5 posted on 06/02/2009 3:48:18 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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I’ll take a Thomas over a Sotomayor


6 posted on 06/02/2009 3:48:22 PM PDT by ak267
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To: mgstarr

Attending Stanford is just wrong and Nebraska isn’t much better.

GO HUSKIES


7 posted on 06/02/2009 3:48:50 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: mgstarr

Clarence Thomas is a class individual.


8 posted on 06/02/2009 3:49:07 PM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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To: mgstarr

Great story. NBC still sucks though.


9 posted on 06/02/2009 3:49:08 PM PDT by fleagle ( An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. -Winston Churchill)
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To: mgstarr

Great story!!!


10 posted on 06/02/2009 3:49:41 PM PDT by AirForceBrat23
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To: mgstarr
That is awesome. Read Clarence Thomas’ book, “My Grandfather's Son.” It's fabulous.
11 posted on 06/02/2009 3:50:23 PM PDT by mia
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To: mgstarr

someone must have been sleeping at the news desk to let that one through


12 posted on 06/02/2009 3:51:19 PM PDT by fortunate sun (Tell me what books you want to ban and I'll tell you what type of politics you hold.)
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To: mgstarr

WOW! What an amazing story! Clarence Thomas is a sincerely GREAT MAN. Apparently he is humble (or cheap), too. LOL!

Riding coach? I try NOT to ride coach and I’m just a peon. It is so uncomfortable there. I guess I could stand it for a short four hour flight, but for a 13-hour flight coach is just intolerable.


13 posted on 06/02/2009 3:51:34 PM PDT by Jemian (PAM of JT ~~ Caligula, just like his Kenyan ancestors, is selling his countrymen into slavery.)
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To: Drango
Attending Stanford is just wrong and Nebraska isn’t much better.

At least they didn't go to Big 10 school. That would be a waste of talent.

14 posted on 06/02/2009 3:51:38 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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To: mgstarr

Wow! A positive story about Justice Thomas from the MSM!

I’m shocked.


15 posted on 06/02/2009 3:52:02 PM PDT by Artemis Webb (Increasingly mulling Newt....or maybe not.)
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To: mgstarr

A wonderful heartlifting story.


16 posted on 06/02/2009 3:53:43 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: Drango

You gave me a good laugh with the “GO HUSKIES”. Hey, at least you have dedication. Just like the Detroit Lions, no where to go but up. Have you seen this?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI_xCBAv2rk

GO DUCKS!
GO BEAVERS!


17 posted on 06/02/2009 3:54:13 PM PDT by dirtman
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To: mgstarr

*A real Supreme Court Justice bump*


18 posted on 06/02/2009 3:55:46 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: mgstarr

You’re a great man, Mr Justice Thomas . . .

but a Cornhusker????

Say it isn’t so


19 posted on 06/02/2009 3:56:06 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: freekitty

GOOSEBUMPS !


20 posted on 06/02/2009 3:57:22 PM PDT by Reagan69 (No Representation without Taxation !)
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To: freedumb2003

Way more class than Zero ever had or has.


21 posted on 06/02/2009 3:58:12 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
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To: Artemis Webb

probably the last no-bias/hit-piece reporting was when 60 Minutes’ gave Justice Thomas his own segment. Even I couldn’t believe it.


22 posted on 06/02/2009 3:58:33 PM PDT by max americana
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To: A_Former_Democrat

At least he’s not a former democrat :-)


23 posted on 06/02/2009 3:59:12 PM PDT by rabidralph
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To: mgstarr

Sounds like a compelling life story.


24 posted on 06/02/2009 3:59:50 PM PDT by exit82 (The Obama Cabinet: There was more brainpower on Gilligan's Island.)
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To: mgstarr

Slumming in coach class and speaking with peasants? What kind of elitist DC insider does that?


25 posted on 06/02/2009 4:01:42 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: dirtman

Go Beavers? Okay, you are alright dirtman! You still in Corvallis?


26 posted on 06/02/2009 4:03:19 PM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: yldstrk

Go HUSKERS!


27 posted on 06/02/2009 4:03:52 PM PDT by huskerjim
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To: mgstarr

Even liberal reporters who dislike the legal opinions of Justice Thomas admit that he is, far and away, the nicest person on the Court. He reportedly will chat for hours with visiting relatives of journalists, clerks, etc.


28 posted on 06/02/2009 4:05:40 PM PDT by irishjuggler
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To: ak267

I’ll take a Thomas over a Sotomayor


without a doubt! And I’ll bet his “compelling personal story” is a lot better than hers, too. So sad that the compelling personal story didn’t count when he was going through the confirmation process. What a great American!


29 posted on 06/02/2009 4:06:39 PM PDT by ElayneJ
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To: Artemis Webb
Wow! A positive story about Justice Thomas from the MSM!

I'm sure there will be a followup story about how Thomas' conservative rulings hurt the students even as he befriends them.

30 posted on 06/02/2009 4:06:56 PM PDT by PressurePoint
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To: mgstarr

The man is treasure. (I gotta start flying more — might get lucky.)


31 posted on 06/02/2009 4:08:20 PM PDT by fullchroma (I want my country back.)
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To: mia
Read Clarence Thomas’ book,

I did too. In his book he said that he and his wife travel the country in the summer in their travel trailer. wouldn't it be cool to find yourself parked next to him at some campsite in maybe North Dakota, or wherever and share some conversation around a campfire?????????

32 posted on 06/02/2009 4:11:17 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (This country isn't going to hell in a handbasket, it's riding shotgun in an Indy car....)
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To: mgstarr

” He was just a regular old guy, sitting in coach, which really shocked me.”

What a class act


33 posted on 06/02/2009 4:12:13 PM PDT by beefree
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To: mgstarr
Enjoyed the story.
We need more individuals like him on the supreme court.
34 posted on 06/02/2009 4:13:33 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( Don't mess with the mockingbird! /\/\ http://tiny.cc/freepthis)
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To: mgstarr

What a testament to this wonderful American’s character and humility.


35 posted on 06/02/2009 4:14:09 PM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: mgstarr

This is one great grad story!!


36 posted on 06/02/2009 4:16:45 PM PDT by roses of sharon (We must get a grip on what we can, and hold on. Hold on with energy, imagination, and ferocity)
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To: Drango

red uniforms at both schools


37 posted on 06/02/2009 4:17:27 PM PDT by pointsal
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To: Reagan69

That’s the word.


38 posted on 06/02/2009 4:19:54 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: mgstarr

This man is a Patriot and a Class Act. His Conservative roots are showing.


39 posted on 06/02/2009 4:24:49 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Throw the bums out who vote yes on the bail out)
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To: beefree

Maybe a conversation on race a la Jonah Goldberg will bring some fairness to Justice Thomas as well. He deserves it.


40 posted on 06/02/2009 4:26:43 PM PDT by Thebaddog (Obama really did believe that stuff he was saying during the campaign)
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To: mgstarr
He's just good. And humble. And smart.

Wish we had a couple more like him on the Supreme Court.

41 posted on 06/02/2009 4:28:13 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: xsmommy; NeoCaveman; SoothingDave; secret garden

What a heartwarming story.


42 posted on 06/02/2009 4:29:38 PM PDT by tioga
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To: mgstarr

Wasn’t Justice Thomas the one who coined “the dirty little secret about freedom means you are on your own”???


43 posted on 06/02/2009 4:31:52 PM PDT by pray4liberty (http://www.foundersvalues.com/)
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To: mgstarr

Justice Thomas flies coach, while Obama takes the missus to the Big Apple for a date at a cost of hundreds of thousands to the taxpayer.

What a difference!

I just love Clarence Thomas. There is so much to admire about him.


44 posted on 06/02/2009 4:33:40 PM PDT by Mad-Margaret
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To: Rebelbase

>>What kind of elitist DC insider does that?

Thomas doesn’t get invited to the swank Georgetown cocktail parties, I hear...not that he cares.


45 posted on 06/02/2009 4:39:56 PM PDT by oblomov (Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods. - Mencken)
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To: oblomov
Thomas doesn’t get invited to the swank Georgetown cocktail parties, I hear...not that he cares.

Early in our nation's history, Martha Washington was heard to comment that Georgetown was "a dirty hole." Generations later, another lovely First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, said "it still is."

I don't think things have changed very much.

46 posted on 06/02/2009 4:42:19 PM PDT by pray4liberty (http://www.foundersvalues.com/)
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To: Richard Kimball

I would choose Clarence Thomas over Sotomayor as well. He is respectable.


47 posted on 06/02/2009 4:53:42 PM PDT by tessalu
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To: Dutchboy88

I never went to U of O or OSU. I am just a proud member of the Society of Native Oregon Born (SNOB) and root for the Ducks or Beavers or Trail Blazers.


48 posted on 06/02/2009 4:53:46 PM PDT by dirtman
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To: mgstarr

Great report, Justice Thomas is a super role model.


49 posted on 06/02/2009 4:58:14 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: mgstarr
"I was amazed this guy knew so much about us as football players and as people," said Stephens. "That was shocking. I felt honored to be known by someone of his caliber. He was just a regular old guy, sitting in coach, which really shocked me."

Unlike another guy who needs a G-V to take his wife out for a date, along with two other aircraft and two helicopters. A G-V like this one:

He a Husker's fan, who regularly attends the games. He's gotta be cool.

50 posted on 06/02/2009 5:00:36 PM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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