Michael Thomas

The former Saxonburg borough manager was honored last week in Plum, where he had been serving as borough manager before he died in a devastating home explosion.

Plum borough council changed the name of Old Mine Road to Mike Thomas Way at a meeting last week, honoring Michael Thomas, who was killed in an August explosion.

Old Mine Road -- now Mike Thomas Way -- was a familiar spot to Thomas, as that’s where he went to work every day in his role as borough manager for Plum. He’d been serving in that capacity since June 2005.

Prior to that, he served as borough manager of Saxonburg from April 2001 to October 2004.

The decision was, unsurprisingly, unanimous, which speaks to just how important he was in his role to the community.

Among those injured in the Plum explosion was Thomas’ wife, Jacqueline “Jackie,” Thomas, who is a teacher at Butler Intermediate High School.

It’s worth noting that the staff at Butler Intermediate have planned the Rock for a Cause concert to be held Sunday, Oct. 22 at Jergel's Rhythm Grille in Warrendale.

For now, Jackie Thomas remains on leave from her job at the Butler school.

“Jackie, she is definitely missed while she is not here,” district teacher Jared Schneider said in a Oct. 7 article previewing the fundraiser.

Rock for a Cause will raise money through ticket sales, which cost $10 online and $15 at the door, and tickets for basket raffle sales. The concert will feature BB Steal and 80’s Live, family-friendly rock bands whose members are donating their time to the event.

We applaud the way the Butler school staff are coming together to help Jackie and her family in her time of need, and we’re pleased to see how Plum recognized its longtime manager by renaming the road.

— TL