Feb. 9, 2018
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech athletics will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jack Thompson’s arrival on The Flats with a series of events this weekend.
Thompson arrived at Georgia Tech in 1968 as director of football recruiting, a position that he served in under Bud Carson (1968-71), Bill Fulcher (1972-73) and Pepper Rodgers (1974). In that capacity, he helped recruit the first African-American student-athletes to be awarded scholarships at Georgia Tech, led by legendary quarterback Eddie McAshan.
After two years as assistant to the head coach under Rodgers (1975), Thompson moved from the football office into administration under renowned athletics director Homer Rice. Thompson first as an assistant athletics director for five years, was promoted to associate athletics director for development in 1982 and promoted again to senior associate athletics director for development in 1998.
In his role with the Alexander-Tharpe Fund, Georgia Tech athletics’ development arm, he spearheaded the fundraising efforts for the construction or major renovation of every athletics facility on Tech’s campus. His efforts also provided scholarships for thousands of student-athletes to receive their education and degrees from Georgia Tech. The A-T Fund has raised more than $593 million since Thompson’s promotion to associate A.D. in 1982.
Highlighting his many honors and awards, Thompson was named an honorary alumnus of Georgia Tech in 2004. He was also named National Fundraiser of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) in 2005 and received a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2011.
“It’s an unbelievable privilege and honor for us to celebrate Jack Thompson’s 50 years on The Flats,” Georgia Tech director of athletics Todd Stansbury said. “Jack is a Georgia Tech institution. Over the last half-century, there is not one student-athlete, coach or staff member that has come through The Flats who has not benefitted from Jack’s hard work, incredible talent and love for the Yellow Jackets.”
As he moves into his 51st year with the Yellow Jackets, Thompson will transition out of his role as a member of the A-T Fund staff and into the position of special assistant to the director of athletics, working directly with Stansbury on strategic development initiatives and other program priorities.
“I’m proud to call Jack a mentor and a friend,” Stansbury continued. “I’m looking forward to working with him even closer on our strategic fundraising initiatives and other programs that are closely tied to developing young people who will change the world.”
Highlighting this weekend’s events to celebrate Thompson’s 50 years on The Flats, he will be honored publicly during Sunday night’s Georgia Tech-Duke men’s basketball showdown at sold-out McCamish Pavilion.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTAthletics), Facebook and Instagram or visit us at ramblinwreck.com.
