THOMPSON, JOHN CLARENCE

THOMPSON, JOHN CLARENCE (TOMMY) (1891-1968). John Clarence (Tommy) Thompson, motel owner, civic leader and advocate for veterans’ causes, was born in Powell, Texas, on May 6, 1891. He served in the Army during World War I as a corporal in the 5th Field Artillery Regiment.

Thompson moved to Bossier City in the early 1930s where he established himself as a civic leader. A successful hotelier, he owned and operated the Rockland Motel Courts and Blue Bonnet Courts on East Texas Street in Bossier City. He ran for mayor of Bossier City in the municipal primary election on April 8, 1941, but lost to incumbent Hoffman L. Fuller. In addition to serving as director of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, Thompson was for many years parade chairman for the annual Holiday in Dixie celebration.

Active in veterans’ affairs, Thompson was a member of Lowe-McFarlane Post 14 of The American Legion and held numerous offices in Voiture Locale 137 of the 40 & 8 Society, including Chef de Train (vice commander), Garde de Prisonaire (charge of the degree team) and membership on the Cheminot or local executive committee. He was solely responsible for raising the money and building the parade train of Voiture Locale 137, a replica of a French locomotive mounted on a bus chassis, which has been active in local and regional parades and festivals since its debut in 1953. Thompson also founded the "The Sewing Circle," an informal monthly luncheon for members of the 40 & 8 that emphasized fun, strengthened the ties of comradeship and reinforced commitment to veterans' causes. He was a member of the Red Cross and Broadmoor Baptist Church where he was a past president of the church's Victor’s Bible Class.

After an earlier marriage ended, by which he had a daughter, Marguerite Thompson Wilkes, Thompson married Dollie Hart in later years. He died May 1, 1968, in Shreveport and is buried at the Forest Park Cemetery.

Shawn M. Bohannon

Bibliography: "John C. Thompson," Shreveport Times, May 2, 1968, 3A; "J. C. Thompson Announces for Mayor’s Office," Bossier City The Planter’s Press, March 6, 1941, 1; "Hoffman L. Fuller is Nominated for Four More Years," Bossier City The Planter’s Press, April 10, 1941, 1; "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JD5N-5VS : accessed 22 Jan 2013), Marguerite G. Wilkes, 14 Jun 1969; citing reference CN 45007, State Registrar Office, Austin, Texas; Records of Voiture Locale 137, La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (40 & 8 Society), 1929-1981, 1994-2010 Northwest Louisiana Archives, Noel Memorial Library, Shreveport: Louisiana State University.

Citation

The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article.

"THOMPSON, JOHN CLARENCE" Handbook of North Louisiana Online (http://www…….), accessed …………. Published by LSU-Shreveport.