No quiet ceremony for Thomas

(Kansas City-AP) -- Derrick Thomas is being grieved by the entire Kansas City area. A steady stream of men and women who never even met the Chiefs' All-Pro linebacker have been trooping to Arrowhead

Saturday, February 12th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Kansas City-AP) -- Derrick Thomas is being grieved by the entire Kansas City area. A steady stream of men and women who never even met the Chiefs' All-Pro linebacker have been trooping to Arrowhead Stadium to lay wreaths and keepsakes. The mourners are expressing their sorrow in heartfelt poems and recounting favorite memories of his illustrious career.

They give money to Thomas' Third and Long Foundation to promote reading. They gather by the thousands at a candlelight vigil and wear his Number 58 jersey number all over town. There will be no quiet ceremony for the man who starred for eleven years as a pro football player. His body will be flown from Miami to Kansas City for a public viewing on Monday and a public memorial service on Tuesday, then returned to Miami for another service before he is finally laid to rest.