Mother of shooter of Coach Ed Thomas to speak in New Albin on mental illness April 8

New Albin Community Education is bringing Joan Becker to New Albin for a speaking engagement Friday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center. Becker is the mother of Mark Becker, who was convicted of shooting legendary Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas to death in 2009, and she has since become an advocate and public speaker for individuals with mental illness.
Becker has also authored a book, “Sentenced to Life: The Mark Becker Story - Mental Illness, Tragedy, and Transformation” (Credo House Publishers-2015). Becker’s book reveals how her personal family experience has served as the catalyst for her to focus on opening doors and promoting change in the current mental health system. She speaks regularly to colleges, churches, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) groups, high schools, communities, and mental health service providers.
Joan Becker lives in Iowa with her husband of 35 years, David, and they have three sons, Brad (Jackie), Scott (Nikki) and Mark. She and her husband believe God wants them to share their family’s story about Mark and the experience their family has had of coping with Paranoid Schizophrenia in the hope that it will help other families, caregivers and professionals understand how they can make a difference in improving the mental health system.