An ISU professor has become the ninth recipient to receive an award in its 36-year history.

Jerry Thomas, chair of the department of health and human performance at Iowa State, has been named Distinguished Scholar by the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity.

Thomas said he was not expecting the award, because there was no indication the award would even be given this year. The award honored his 25 years of researching motor development.

“It was a surprise,” Thomas said. “It’s a very nice recognition for a long career in the science of human movement.”

Thomas, former president of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, accepted the award at the society’s annual meeting, which was held the first week of June in Savannah, Ga.

Thomas also received $1,000 and other membership benefits from the society.

“It’s not the money or the plaque; it’s the fact that your colleagues or peers pick you,” Thomas said.

Human health and performance academic adviser Cindy Frederickson said while few students seem to be aware of the honor, others “inside and outside the university realize the award’s importance.”

Cathy Curtis, alumni officer of education administration, said Thomas has been recognized around the office for the honor. “He’s gotten lots of congratulations from many of his colleagues,” she said. “It brings visibility to the entire university.”

Despite all the recognition he has received, Thomas said he has one major concern about receiving this rare award.

“It worries me a little that three of the nine people to get this award are dead,” he joked.

Thomas’ research, which has been widely published, has dealt mainly with motor development in children. He has studied gender differences associated with motor skill development, specifically overhand throwing, and has also researched ways children progress when learning physical skills.

“I enjoy helping children perform better,” Thomas said.

He said another accomplishment he is proud of is helping children defeat the “obesity epidemic and be more active.”

Thomas studied children at Ames elementary schools to gather data for his research, which has given him the opportunity to work in the community.

Thomas’ findings have helped him write one of the foremost textbooks on research methods in physical activity, which has been used by more than 75,000 graduate students. The book has been translated into Japanese and Chinese and will soon be translated into Spanish, Thomas said. The book is in its 19th year of publication.