[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E133-E134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REV. HERBERT THOMPSON HONORED AS A GREAT LIVING CINCINNATIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JEAN SCHMIDT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Right Reverend 
Herbert Thompson, Jr., a bishop, mentor, human rights advocate and 
community leader, who will be formally honored as a Great Living 
Cincinnatian on February 16 by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of 
Commerce.
  The Chamber has bestowed this award on distinguished members of the 
community annually since 1967. Recipients of this prestigious award are 
chosen on the basis of professional achievement; community service; 
leadership; compassion; and vision. Past honorees have included Neil 
Armstrong, Dr. Albert Sabin and Charles Scripps.
  Rev. Thompson was born and raised in New York, where his character 
was shaped by the hard-working and diverse community of Harlem during 
the 1940s and 1950s. After serving in the United States Air Force from 
1952-1956, he enrolled at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he 
graduated cum laude in 1962.
  After a profound religious experience prompted him to serve, he 
enrolled at The General Theological Seminary, where he completed his 
seminary work and earned his master of divinity degree. He received his 
doctorate of ministry from The United Theological Seminary in Dayton, 
Ohio.
  Ordained into the priesthood in 1965, Rev. Thompson served various 
churches and communities in New York until 1988, when he was elected 
Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Southern Ohio. In 1992, he was 
consecrated as the eighth Bishop of Southern Ohio, and the first 
African-American elected to serve the Diocese of Southern Ohio in this 
role. He was only the fourth African-American diocese bishop in the 
history of the Episcopal Church.
  Although he has lived in Cincinnati only since 1988, Rev. Thompson 
has had an enormous and lasting impact on our community. For example, 
in 1993, he organized a comprehensive ``Summit on Racism'' to ease 
racial tensions within the city. He also helped to push forward the 
concept for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
  Throughout his ministry, he has lived by these words: ``To reconcile, 
to heal, to liberate, to serve.'' Rev. Thompson recently retired from 
the Diocese of Southern Ohio, but continues to be actively involved in 
the community.
  Rev. Thompson has dedicated his time and energy to many 
organizations, including serving as chair of the Presiding Bishop's 
Fund for World Relief and co-founder of Global Episcopal Ministries. He 
has also served on the boards of St. Augustine College, Bexley Hall 
Seminary, General Theological Seminary, Kenyon College, Kanuga 
Conference Center, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, 
Cincinnati Opera and the Freedom Center. Among his many awards and 
honors include the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati's Martin Luther King 
Jr. Dreamkeeper award.
  Rev. Thompson has three children and one grandchild.

[[Page E134]]

  All of us in the Cincinnati area congratulate Rev. Thompson on being 
named a Great Living Cincinnatian.

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