McGill University Athletics

William Brown Dickson Thompson was born May 18, 1905 in Kemptville, Ont., and raised in Westmount, Que. He went on to study at McGill, graduating in 1928 with a bachelor of science and arts.

From 1924 to 1926, Thompson won three consecutive intercollegiate cross-country ski titles. He captained the Redmen in 1925-26 and was considered to be Canada’s top racer in the sport after posting some of the best times in North America.

He was a member of the Canadian Olympic team at the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, where he competed in the 18-kilometre race.

That same year, Thompson was a co-founder of the McGill Redbirds Ski Club, which played a prominent role in developing and promoting skiing in Quebec. He served four years as Redbirds club president and in 1934, was elected president of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association.

Thompson, who later served as president of the Royal Montreal Golf Club, died April 3, 1994 in Nepean, Ont.