by Tanessa Dillard
Managing Editor
University of La Verne student Joseph Thrash died Wednesday, Nov. 2, after receiving injuries to the spinal cord in an automobile accident in Los Angeles.
He was a passenger in a Ford Bronco that overturned as he returned home Monday night. The driver survived the single car accident.
Thrash, 32, attended ULV in the early 1980s. He wrestled and ran cross country.
He returned to complete his senior project in child development and planned on getting a master’s degree.
Thrash worked as the resident director at Boys Republic in Los Angeles, a placement home for teenage boys, for the past nine years.
“He developed an outstanding relationship with the kids,” said Oscar Morrison, associate director at Boys Republic. “He was a great role model. He did whatever he could to assist and direct all the kids he’s been in contact with.”
Jim Langley, assistant football coach, attended ULV with Thrash. They remained friends over the years.
“One nice thing about Joe, that you don’t find that often, is that he did a marvelous job of naturally breaking through racial barriers…that we all struggle with,” said Langley. “He got along with anybody without changing his personality. He was always himself. That was probably the most refreshing thing about Joe. He was his own man, his own thinker.”
Tim Morrison, one of Thrash’s closest friends said, “He lived his life on the edge, and the edge just wore a little thin.”
Morrison also described Thrash as a good athlete, a confident person and everyone’s best friend.
“He was full of life. He just lived every moment to the fullest. He was always on the go,” Tim Morrison said. “He had a tremendous sense of humor. After five minutes of talking to him, you just loved the guy.”
Friends of Thrash can visit Forest Lawn Mortuary from 5 to 9 p.m. today. Services will be held tomorrow at noon at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina.
