[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7449]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF COACH DONALD THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2017

  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Coach 
Donald Thompson, the legendary coach of the Pahokee High School 
Football Team, who sadly passed away on April 10, 2017 at the age of 
76. Coach Thompson was born in Harrisburg, Arkansas on Valentine's Day 
in 1941. He spent his formative years in Pahokee, Florida, where he 
made friends in classrooms and on the football field, many of whom 
remained close throughout his life.
  Coach Thompson went to college and played nose tackle for the Citadel 
Bulldogs in Charleston, South Carolina. In his junior year, his team 
won the Tangerine Bowl. He was then transferred to the University of 
Arkansas at Monticello, where he played football for the Boll Weevils 
and graduated with a degree in education.
  After college, Coach Thompson began his career, first in coaching and 
teaching, then as a regional sales manager for weightlifting companies, 
before he was offered the head coaching position at Pahokee High 
School. He coached the Blue Devils from 1984 to 1992, co-founded the 
famous Muck Bowl, an annual game that draws fans from throughout the 
Glades area and beyond. Coach Thompson guided his team to the first of 
many state championships in 1989. For these and many other exemplary 
accomplishments, on and off the gridiron, he was inducted into the Palm 
Beach County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
  Even after he retired from coaching, and despite deteriorating 
health, he continued to volunteer with the team, cleaning uniforms, 
fixing helmets and praying with players during practices and games. He 
loved being a part of the Pahokee High School Football Team and 
athletic program.
  Although he was highly regarded as a football coach, his true 
passions were his faith, family and friends. His true calling was to be 
an example to his family and everyone he encountered, especially his 
fellow congregants at the First United Church of Pahokee, his football 
players and the children of Pahokee. In ``Coach T,'' many found a man 
who would happily be the father figure they wanted and needed. His 
calming voice, caring demeanor and strength of character endeared him 
to everyone.
  Coach Thompson also loved sailing, spending countless hours on the 
waters of South Florida sailing his beloved Lake Okeechobee with his 
loving wife of 52 years, Alice, and his family. Coach Donald Thompson 
was truly one of a kind--a fine sportsman, a real gentleman and a 
credit to mankind. I was fortunate to know him and call him my friend. 
He will be dearly missed.

                          ____________________