Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, gave a speech this week on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, honoring former Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Jack Thompson, who passed away on Sunday.
“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Jack Alexander Thompson from Montgomery, Alabama,” Aderholt said. “Jack Thompson passed away on Sunday after a full life of eighty-eight years. He was an upstanding citizen of our state and a respected member of the Montgomery community.”
“Jack Thompson was an Alabamian through and through, as he was born in Colbert County in 1932 and remained in the state his entire life,” Aderholt continued. “After graduating from Colbert County High School, Jack Thompson married his sweetheart, Ruth Hester, at the age of twenty. Jack and Ruth were married for sixty-seven years and raised four wonderful children, which led to the additional joy of having grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
“As a student, Jack dedicated his studies to agriculture, which is evident that it played a big role in his life for as long as he lived,” Aderholt said. “He earned is B.S. in Agriculture from Auburn University and his master’s in animal science from the University of Tennessee. If it was not clear before these degrees, it was clear afterwards – Jack was going to make a difference in agriculture and better the lives of many people along the way.”
“For the following thirty-one years Jack worked for the Auburn University Extension Service, where he engaged with 4-H students, Cattlemen, and Agronomy farmers in Montgomery, Elmore, and Limestone counties,” Aderholt said. “After retiring, Jack went on to own a farm in Athens, Alabama and served as the Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture before assuming the role of Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries for four years. Jack also combined his two passions, agriculture and Auburn University, and lobbied for financing to construct the Ag and Industries Thompson Bishop Sparks Diagnostic Lab on Auburn’s campus. This was quite the undertaking, but Jack got it done, and he went on to do much more.”
“As a volunteer, Jack Thompson’s list of service roles is incredible,” Aderholt said. “He was president of the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce; Campaign Chairman of the United Way; president of the Limestone County Cattlemen’s Association, a lifetime Director of the State Cattlemen’s Association; a lifetime member of the Athens Industrial Development Association; and was a board member at the Salvation Army. Jack also worked with 4-H kids in coordinating with state, district, and local steer shows and managed livestock for what is now the Alabama National Fair.”
“Jack Thompson is now survived by his four children; David Thompson, Keith Thompson, Susan Woodham, and Janice Thompson,” Aderholt said. “In addition, he is survived by his sister, Ann Thomas, and his eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. It is with a heavy heart for the family of Mr. Jack Thompson and the community of Montgomery, Alabama that I submit this statement into the Congressional Record in recognition of the life of Mr. Jack Thompson. His legacy will live on well into the future.”
Aderholt represents Alabama’s 4th Congressional District.
