SCENE THE
THE
Spring Issue 4
April 30, 2021
THESCENEFP.COM
www.thescenefp.com
Expressing creativity See page 4
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Inventor auditioned for ‘Shark Tank’ By La Toya Smith The Scene staff The world has electric light bulbs because of Thomas Edison, streetlights because of Garrett Morgan and bifocal glasses because of Benjamin Franklin. Forest Park has its own inventor. His name is Marvin Thomas, and he’s a 62-yearold student who plans eventually to earn an engineering degree. “I’ve been inventing things since I was 8 years old,” he said. Thomas started as a young baseball player, trying to improve his bat speed. He came up with a device to help with arm and leg strengthening. As an adult, Thomas realized he had a knack for solving problems, particularly those related to construction, plumbing and home maintenance. “I love to help people,” he said. “It gives me joy, and it keeps me busy.” Thomas has invented about eight products, ranging from a self-cleaning gutter system to a hands-free, vertical and horizonal leveler. He has secured one patent and applied for seven more.
By La Toya Smith The Scene staff
Toilet tank supporter
In February 2020, Thomas auditioned for “Shark Tank,” a reality TV series with a panel of celebrity investors who decide whether to spend money to help entrepreneurs after watching presentations on their ideas for companies or products. “The whole experience was exhilarating and amazing,” he said. Thomas pitched his “toilet tank supporter” to the show’s producers in Kansas City. They are the ones who pick contestants to go before the panel. The toilet tank support isn’t much bigger than a pack of cigarettes. It’s propped between a toilet tank and the wall with a hanger that holds it in place. “It allows the structure to remain sturdy,” said Thomas, who has done his own plumbing for years. “It takes less than a minute to install, no tools are required, and it’s economical.
Photo by Fred Ortlip
STLCC student and inventor Marvin Thomas sits on the Forest Park campus.
“My invention (allows plumbers) to take things apart and fix them. install toilet tanks, regardless of the mea“I think his destiny was to be an inventor,” surement dynamics.” Perry said of her father, Marvin Thomas. The COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after Perry was the one who secretly conThomas auditioned for “Shark Tank,” so tacted the producers of “Shark Tank” to he wasn’t invited to get him an audition. appear on the show. “It allows the structure to Thomas wasn’t surBut he hopes to see prised. She’s always his toilet tank sup- remain sturdy. It takes less been tenacious and a porter manufactured go-getter. and sold at stores that than a minute to install, no Thomas is former carry plumbing equipstar baseball player tools are required and it’s in high school and ment. “Shark Tank” procollege and a vetereconomical.” ducers gave him peran who served in the mission to use the U.S. Marine Corps. Marvin Thomas show’s name in his Over the years, he advertisements and has worked mainly promotional materias an automotive als. mechanic. He has three grown daughters. “It was sad that I couldn’t go, but it He’s been attending Forest Park in 2018. still helped me get my main invention out Thomas operates under the company there,” Thomas said. “… It allowed me to name BFT (Benjamin Franklin Thomas). get my foot in other doors.” More information can be found on the website at bftproducts.com. Ben Franklin’s son Since the “Shark Tank” audition, Thomas Thomas has always loved working with has invented four more products. He has his hands and coming up with inventions already started the manufacturing process that would serve multiple purposes, accord- for his hands-free, vertical and horizonal ing to his daughter, Marilyn Perry. She leveler. thinks his father had a big influence on him. “Right now, I’m trying to get a loan from Benjamin Franklin Thomas was an auto- the Small Business Administration to marmotive instructor at Vashon High School, ket it,” Thomas said. “It’s definitely someO’Fallon Technical High School and North thing needed in the construction industry.” County Technical High School. He loved to
–
Marvin Thomas uses this flier to help promote his toilet tank supporter.
Commencement ceremony comes with a twist Forest Park will have a commencement ceremony this spring, but it will be “drive-thru” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will get their diplomas from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 15, with a stage set up in front of the new Center for Nursing and Health Sciences on campus. “The ceremony gives the students a chance to walk across the stage and feel like things like graduation can still be normalized,” said Dedra Duncan, director of the orientation, transition and peer mentor program. “The graduation committee listened to the students and, because of that, they will get the graduation they deserve.” Information is being sent to students who registered, including instructions on how to line up in cars. Signs also will direct traffic. Students can bring one vehicle each. They will exit their vehicles, walk across the stage, get their diplomas and pose for official photos. Family members and friends may park elsewhere on campus after the ceremony for candid photos. “It was a little sad for the students not to graduate in 2020,” said student Somer Wain. “Now hopefully things will be back to normal, and this graduation will make students feel accomplished. Everyone looks forward to graduation. This day is a very special day.” Joyce Starr Johnson, vice chancellor of academic affairs for St. Louis Community College, said the district will hold four smaller commencement ceremonies this year instead of one big ceremony at Chaifetz Arena, as is traditional. Hours are 6 to 8 p.m. May 14 for the Wildwood campus, 9 a.m. to noon May 15 for the Florissant Valley campus and 5 to 8 p.m. May 15 for the Meramec campus. Forest Park Bookstore employee Delainey Maughs said she hopes college officials can make the commencement ceremony as personable as possible for students. “That (drive-thru) graduation may not have the same decorum for students as graduations in the past,” she said. All four commencement ceremonies will be accessible for disabled students who need wheelchairs, public transportation or other arrangements.