Hall W. Thompson
Hall W. Thompson (May 28, 1923 – October 27, 2010) was an American businessman and golf course developer.[1][2]
Biography
Early life
Hall W. Thompson was born on May 28, 1923, in
Business
While at Vanderbilt, he started working at General Truck Sales, the nation's largest privately owned GMC truck outlet.[1] In 1957, he purchased the north Alabama dealership for Caterpillar Inc. and called it Thompson Tractor.[1][2] New tractor facilities were built in Anniston, Decatur and Tuscaloosa.[1] In 1987, his son Michael took over, and it became the authorized dealer for south Alabama and the panhandle of Florida, employing 1,230 people.[1]
He served on the Boards of Directors of
Golf
He developed and established the
He remained involved with the Shoal Creek club until his death, and saw the admission of members such as former
His remarks led to greater introspection by the golf world regarding the membership policies at the clubs that serve as tournament hosts, with an official at the USGA estimating that 75% of private clubs in the United States in 1990 had membership policies that exclude minorities and women.[8] As part of an effort that "helps change the climate" executive director David B. Fay of the United States Golf Association, the organization that sets rules for the sport and operates the U.S. Open, the second of the four major championships, announced new regulations in November under which the USGA would not hold tournaments at private clubs that discriminate against women or minorities.[9] The PGA Tour and the PGA of America had already announced in August that clubs that discriminated based on race, religion or sex would not be accepted as sites for the 120 tournaments conducted each year.[10]
Personal life
He died at the age of 87 on October 27, 2010. He was survived by his wife, Lucille, as well as by two daughters, three sons and eight grandchildren.[3] He was honored as Alabama's first "Distinguished Sportsman" by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and he was inducted in the Alabama Academy of Honor.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Alabama Academy of Honor biography". Archived from the original on 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ^ a b Thompson Tractor Archived 2012-06-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f Pennington, Bill. "Hall Thompson, Who Stirred Golf Controversy, Dies at 87", The New York Times, October 28, 2010. Accessed October 29, 2010.
- ^ a b Diaz, Jaime. "Golf; Shoal Creek Club Agrees To Begin Admitting Blacks", The New York Times, August 1, 1990. Accessed October 29, 2010.
- ^ Johnson, William Oscar. "The Gates Open: By admitting a black, Birmingham's Shoal Creek led a quiet revolution", Sports Illustrated, August 13, 1990. Accessed October 29, 2010.
- ^ "The Tradition to Alabama". The Bulletin. 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2011-01-10.
- ^ Augusta National Golf Club members list, USA Today
- ^ Diaz, Jaime. "GOLF; Racism Issue Shakes World of Golf", The New York Times, July 29, 1990. Accessed October 29, 2010.
- ^ Diaz, Jaime. "U.S.G.A. Says Clubs Must Not Discriminate", The New York Times, November 16, 1990. Accessed October 29, 2010.
- ^ Diaz, Jaime. "GOLF; PGA Tour to Require Proof of Nonbias at Sites", The New York Times, August 4, 1990. Accessed October 29, 2010.