[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 118 (Friday, June 26, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E577-E578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. JACK ALEXANDER THOMPSON OF MONTGOMERY, AL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2020

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I would like to offer my sincere 
condolences to the family of Mr. Jack Alexander Thompson from 
Montgomery, Alabama. 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. 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

[[Page E578]]

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. He earned his 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. 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. 
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. 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 recognize the life of Mr. Jack 
Thompson. His legacy will live on well into the future.

                          ____________________