Butler County Sports Hall of Fame: Meet 2026 inductee William ‘Bee’ Thoma
William “Bee” Thoma earned success through the years by “just following people.”
That method led to his decades of excellence in gymnastics, a career which has resulted in his induction into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame.
A 1972 Butler graduate, Thoma learned of the potential of gymnastics by watching his older sister's cheerleading practices.
“She was eight years older than me, so I went along to watch,” Thoma said. “I saw a lot of people flipping around, and it looked like fun.
Thoma will join Kelly Coffield, Brad Mueller, Jence Rhoads, Melinda Rhoads, Jeff Schnur and Mike Seybert at an induction ceremony at Butler County Community College’s Founder’s Hall. The ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. April 25. Individual tickets ($35) or for tables of eight are available at butlersportshall.com.
“I was going to the pie festival one day, and (gymnastics coach) Chuck Williams pulled me aside and took me to the balcony of the high school gym,” Thoma said.
“There were 60 kids practicing gymnastics there, and he said, ‘This is where you belong now.”
A member of the Golden Tornado boys gymnastics team from 1970-72, Thoma won a team state championship, earned a state medal in floor exercise and was recognized as one of the top high school gymnasts in Pennsylvania.
From there, he attended Georgia Southern University, where he was a captain of the gymnastics team. Thoma was honored as the university's student of the year in 1977 when he graduated.
That award was based on academic achievement, leadership, character and integrity.
“Dave McKinnis was our head high school coach, and I learned a lot of those traits from him,” Thoma said. “Much of what I've done in gymnastics — and am still doing — has been based on the model Dave McKinnis presented.”
Thoma moved to California to join Athletes in Action Gymnastics. He passed on an opportunity to attend medical school.
“People wanted me to go to med school, but I'm a Christian and I'm a gymnast,” Thoma said. “AIA was everything I wanted.”
When AIA relocated to Colorado in 1984, Thoma decided to stay in Fountain Valley, Calif., to open the New Hope Gymnastics Academy and help grow the sport.
He wound up renting a building used by the U.S. women's volleyball team, which was training for the Olympics.
“When the team left, they handed me the keys to the place,” Thoma said. “Then two realtors showed up and were going to buy the place. It looked like I wasn't gonna get the building after all.
“One of the realtors turned out to be (Butler and NFL football great) Rich Saul. Once he realized who I was and what my plans were, he told his partner they weren't buying the building.”
New Hope Gymnastics is now 42 years old. It employs more than 40 coaches and has produced more than 10 NCAA gymnasts, elite national champions, and numerous state, regional and national title holders.
“I started out with eight gymnasts and no building,” Thoma said. “Mary Lou Retton won the gold in Olympic gymnastics in 1984, and we got 1,000 kids overnight. Retton's impact on the sport in this country was incredible.
“We still have more than 1,000 gymnasts, and there’s a waiting list.”
Thoma has been named Southern California Coach of the Year and has earned the Southern California Gymnastics Lifetime Achievement Award.
Besides coaching his own gymnasts, Thoma has mentored and supported the early development of two now-prominent Southern California gym owners. New Hope Gymnastics has hosted international events, as well.
“We are about excellence and Godliness here,” he said of New Hope Gymnastics. “I want the kids to feel secure and nurtured. We let them be kids, but disciplined in a wholesome element. We're demanding, but in a nice way.
“We're teachers, not preachers. Our atmosphere is healthy for the kids.”
Said Thoma of his county hall of fame induction“ “I'm excited. I've always been proud to be from Butler. People from Butler have greatly influenced my life. This just means a lot.”
