University of Delaware Athletics
2015 University of Delaware Football Honorary Captains
9/4/2015 1:59:00 AM | Football
2015 University of Delaware Football Honorary Captains
The UD Football Honorary Captain program - which takes place at each home every season - honors friends of Blue Hen football who continue to make outstanding contributions. Each honoree is a special guest of UD Athletics throughout the day and takes part in the pregame coin toss at midfield.
Sept. 12 vs. Lafayette - Jim Thomas
Jim Thomas, believed to be Delaware Football's oldest living captain, will serve as Honorary Captain 
for the Lafayette game.
A native of Wilmington, Del., Jim earned three letters as an offensive end and defensive back in 1948-50 and served as a co-captain with Fred Schenck during the 1950 season for Hall of Fame head coach Dave Nelson.
He helped lead the 1949 squad to a record of 8-1 when he caught 30 passes for 362 yards to rank third in the East. He enrolled at Delaware after serving in the Army during World War II and earned his degree in business administration in 1951.
Following graduation, he began a career as a contractor and founded his own company in 1958 which later grew to include Delaware Contracting, Wilmington Stevedores, and Port Contractors.
These businesses specialized in site contracting, transportation, and logistics movements in the shipping industry.
He currently resides in Wilmington with his wife Mary. The Thomases, who will be married 63 years in November, have seven children and 11 grandchildren.
Sept. 4 vs. Jacksonville (Fla.) - James Anderson
A native of Iselin, N.J., James rose up through the depth chart and accomplished in just two seasons what many never did while playing for Hall of Fame head coach Tubby Raymond during the 1987 and 1988 seasons.
He led the Blue Hens in receiving both seasons, hauling in 54 passes for a school-record 1,067 yards 
(19.7 avg.) and 11 touchdowns as a senior in 1987 when he earned first team Associated Press All-American honors, and catching 42 passes for 682 yards (16.2 avg.) and six touchdowns as a senior in 1988.
He earned All-Yankee Conference honors both seasons and led the league in scoring during the 1987. The Blue Hens went 7-5, captured a share of the Yankee Conference title, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1988.
His career totals of 96 receptions for 1,749 yards and 17 touchdowns still rank among the all-time UD leaders and his eight career 100-yard games (in just 23 games) still ranks No. 4 all-time. He averaged 18.2 yards per reception during his career and had six 100-yard receiving games in 1987.
A 1991 Delaware bachelor of science graduate in business administration, James now resides in Avenel, N.J. and is a senior claims service analyst for Allstate Insurance Co. He and his wife, Marie, have two sons, Darin and Donovan.
