Craig A. Thomas Impact on Behavior Analysis and Behavior Therapy Award 2011
for  Article of the Year

One of his favorite sayings was, "There is always tomorrow, until there isn't."

      Craig Thomas was a dedicated behavior analyst, musician, and known best to his family as father and husband.  He began his career in human services as an advocate with the Montgomery County Association for Retarded Citizens (name at the time) in the mid-1980s.  He later went on to pursue his doctoral degree in psychology and BCBA from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.  Dr. Thomas began an autism service in the Reading, PA area where he was married and had two children.  He later relocated to Mississippi where he met and married his 2nd wife, Kimberly. 

     Dr. Thomas was an avid advocate not only for those receiving services but for the profession.  In 1999 he joined a group of colleagues to begin the Behavior Analyst Today, and later used his computer programming skills to create the Behavior Analyst Online (BAO) website as the vehicle for publishing BAT and the several additional journals of the BAO organization, which became the governing body for the journals.  Along with Joe Cautilli, initial developer of the journals, Craig also helped establish the BAO as a special interest group of the Association for Behavior Analysis: International.  Craig also became instrumental in an off-shoot of this group. The Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG, due to advances in the practice of behavior analysis and the need for more advocacies within ABA: I. Craig was busy running his autism program, the Mississippi Clinic with Dr. Kimberly Ray whom later married, along with continuing his interest in music, and several other projects. He had a great love for his wife, children, preparing and performing music for his church, as well as the profession of behavior analysis for which he fought tirelessly. He also had a love for life and a wonderful sense of humor, was very social and enjoyed being with, and was admired greatly by his friends, and he also admired them.

     Sadly, Craig was found unresponsive the night before Easter services by his wife, Kimberly, while preparing the music for the church services the next day.  It can be said that he passed doing what he loved with those he loved.  Unfortunately, he was taken too soon as he was 54 years of age.  It is out of respect for those who knew, loved and cared for Craig that this award has been established to a deserving individual, and so his memory will not fade.  Craig has left a permanent positive impact on those who knew him and the field. 

      The Publisher and founder of BAO and The President of the Governing Board of the Journals have decided to create an award in Craig’s name and bestow it yearly to the article published in any BAO journal that reflects Craig’s memory and his passion and  drive for innovative practices in Clinical Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analysis.

      The first Craig A. Thomas, Ph.D., Article Of The Year award certificate goes to Jack Apsche, for his work in developing Mode deactivation therapy (MDT) represented by the Meta Analysis paper by Jack Apsche, Christopher Bass and Lucia DiMeo and their outstanding publication; Mode Deactivation Therapy (MDT) Comprehensive Meta-Analysis which appeared in the JOBA-OVTP Volume 2, Number 3.

     We believe that this article exemplifies Craig’s passion for excellence in our field. It is the belief of the BAO that the impact of MDT and this article represent’s the Craig’s   indomitable spirit in that it is innovative and MDT is based on third wave behavioral concepts.  We also expect that this article will have a positive impact on CBA, ABA and Behavior Therapy for years to come.