Hall of Fame
Born Thomas Brian Thompson on Feb. 10, 1937 in Montreal, he graduated form Montreal high school, then enrolled at McGill in 1954 and stayed for nearly seven decades. The resident of Westmount, Que., graduated from McGill in 1958 with a science degree, majoring in physical education. That was followed by a diploma in education (1961) and a master's degree in education (1978).
Thompson extraordinary association with McGill began at the age of 14, when he took a weekend job as a porter at the Douglas Hall residence. He later served 42 years as a full-time employee at McGill and 14 more in a casual role as a senior philanthropic advisor. A tireless champion for the University, he helped steer four major capital campaigns and annual solicitation programs which have raised over a billion dollars for the University. He also spearheaded many fundraising campaigns for Athletics and Recreation, supporting multiple initiatives, including the 1990s expansion of the Currie Gym complex and the McConnell Arena improvement fund, to name just a couple.
In 2008, he was a recipient of the McGill Alumni Association's Award of Merit for a lifetime contribution of exceptional leadership and service. In recognition of his long commitment, the Tom Thompson Athletics Award was established to support achievements by student-athletes. In 2013, he merited an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education. He was named Westmount citizen of the year in 2012, received the Queen's Jubilee Diamond Medal 2013 and the (Quebec) Lieutenant-Governor's Medal.
During his undergraduate years, Thompson played intermediate basketball, served as manager of the swim and soccer teams and was on the University's first organized co-ed cheerleading squad. Elected class president from 1954 to 1956, he also served on the intercollegiate athletics council and the blood drive committee, among others. That led to a distinguished career at the University, initially in 1962 as a lecturer in the school of physical education and director of required sports in the department of athletics, where he taught, was a coach and initiated the sports information office in 1966. He was recruited to the Graduates' Society as branch secretary in 1971.
This was the beginning of a long series of remarkable accomplishments of fundraising on behalf of the University. He went on to wear many director's hats, including alumni relations, the annual fund and campaign planning. A strong advocate for McGill Athletics and intercollegiate sports, he also served as president of the James McGill Society and director of the Mont St. Hilaire nature Conservation Centre.
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Thomas Thompson is a native of Westmount, Que., who enrolled at McGill in 1954 and stayed for nearly seven decades. He graduated from McGill in 1958 with a science degree, majoring in physical education, followed in 1961 with a diploma in education and a master's degree in education (1978).
Thompson served 42 years as a full-time employee, helped steer four major capital campaigns and annual solicitation programs which have raised over a billion dollars for the University. He also spearheaded many fundraising campaigns for Athletics and Recreation, supporting multiple initiatives, including the expansion of the Currie Gym complex and the McConnell Arena improvement fund, to name just a couple.
He was the recipient of the MAA's Award of Merit in 2008 for his lifetime contribution of exceptional leadership and service. In recognition of his long commitment, the Tom Thompson Athletics Award was established to recognize the achievements of student-athletes. He also received the Queen's Jubilee Diamond Medal, the (Quebec) Lieutenant-Governor's Medal and an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Canadian Council for Advancement of Education.
