Every Friday evening in the fall you will see a player wearing No. 32. This number holds a special place in Pampa High School football history because it was worn by Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas. As a tribute to Thomas, the Pampa High School football program has retired No. 32 from regular jersey circulation. From this day forward, jersey No. 32 will be worn every Friday night by a different individual. That individual embodies that competitive spirit which Zach Thomas displayed every Friday night in the fall. The individual will be voted on by the coaching staff.
The sixth player selected by the coaching staff to wear No. 32 during the 2026 season is senior wide receiver and defense back Gunter Thomas. He normally wears No. 15, but for the sixth game, and district opener, against Randall on Friday, he will be wearing the Zach Thomas No. 32.
Gunter Thomas said being selected by the coaching staff to wear No. 32 carries special significance because of what the number represents in Pampa.
“It feels good to be personally picked to wear a number with so much pride and history at Pampa,” Thomas said.
For Thomas, wearing No. 32 is about more than taking the field in a different jersey. He said it represents the type of leader and teammate he wants to be.
“The number 32 means leadership. I want to be a role model for all my teammates and just be someone that they can look up to,” Thomas said.
Outside of football, Thomas also competes in track, a sport he has enjoyed for several years.
“The only other sport I play is track, and I have loved running track since seventh grade,” Thomas said.
Thomas hopes his football career will continue beyond his time as a Harvester. While he has not yet decided where that opportunity might take him, playing at the college level remains one of his goals.
“I would love to play football in college. I am still exploring my options on where I will play, but I do know I want to play in the future,” Thomas said.
Away from athletics and school, Thomas said much of his free time revolves around the people closest to him.
“My hobbies outside of school and football are spending time with my family and friends and just hanging out with everyone I want to hang out with,” Thomas said.
Thomas identified his industrial maintenance class at Clarendon College as his favorite subject because of how it connects directly to his plans after high school.
“My favorite subject is the industrial maintenance class at Clarendon College. I like it because it really helps me prepare for my future, and it’s just a good environment to be around,” Thomas said.
That preparation ties into Thomas’ long-term career goal of eventually owning and operating his own HVAC business.
“My future job I am working to achieve is to eventually run and support my own HVAC company. It’s something that I learned about this year, and ever since then, I’ve been trying to work to achieve that,” Thomas said.
Thomas closed by recognizing the people who have helped and encouraged him along the way.
“Thank you to everyone who pushes me to be where I am today,” Thomas said.
Jason Underwood, Pampa’s wide receivers coach, said Gunter’s experience and ability to stretch the field have been especially valuable for a young receiving corps.
“Gunter being the senior leader in a pretty young receiving corps has been a blessing for us. It is always good to have a deep threat, and Gunter is great at getting vertical and stretching the field for us,” Underwood said.
