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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- On Tuesday night, Aaron Thomas spoke to a full house at Truman State University about adversity.

Thomas is the son of the late football coach Ed Thomas of Iowa.

He focused his speech on his father's life and how his dad was optimistic in everything that he did.

He told the audience that after a tornado devastated his hometown in 2008, that was when he saw his father at his lowest point, but the next day he said his father began plans to rebuild. He decided at that moment that the team would play in its first home football game a few weeks later.

Thomas said he asked his father how he could be so optimistic at a time like this.

“He said, Aaron, it's real easy to be a leader when everything is going your way, but people will look and see how you respond when you're faced with adversity,” Thomas said. “(They will see) If you're all talk, or if you truly believe you are the type of person you say you're going to be when things go wrong. Leaders rise to the occasion when things seemed to be a disaster.”

He told the students that he hoped they're challenged to be the best that they can be and to maximize their opportunity, whether it be athletic or academic.

He ended by telling the audience to be passionate, be tough, do what's right each and everyday, and never forget where you come from and those who've invested in you.