Harold "Buck" Thompson's Obituary
Harold "Buck" Thompson, died peacefully at home in Rehoboth Beach on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 surrounded by his loving family.
Buck was born in Manasquan, NJ on October 18,1922, son of Clinton F. and Ethel Roland Thompson. After graduation from Manasquan High School, he attended Franklin and Marshall Academy in Lancaster, PA before entering the University of Delaware in 1941. There he played football for two seasons before entering the Army in 1942. He served in Europe in the 222nd Infantry Regiment of the 42nd Rainbow Division serving in WWII landing on Normandy Beach on D-Day plus one. After the war, he remained active in the Army Reserve, where he was a member of the 446th Military Government Co., Upland, PA until he retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1982.
Buck returned to the University of Delaware in the fall of 1946 and was a member of the varsity football team that was 31-0 in conference and the first Delaware team to play in a bowl game, The Cigar Bowl in Tampa, FL. He still holds two records at the University of Delaware from 1946, longest rushing play for 98 yards and longest kick-off return for 99 yards.
In the fall of 1947 and 1948, he played professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the newly formed All-American Football Conference, returning to the University of Delaware to graduate in1950.
He was a teacher, coach, and counselor at Upper Darby High School in Upper Darby, PA. In 1972, he moved to Lewes, DE and was employed as Financial Aid Director at the Delaware Tech, Southern Campus and then as career guidance and placement counselor for both the Lake Forest and Cape Henlopen School Districts from which he retired in 1986.
In 1985, he was elected to the Board of Trustees at the University of Delaware where he served as the Chairman of the Trustee Committee on Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation and as a member of the Agriculture and Societal Studies and Human Resources Committees. After he retired from the Board, he continued to serve as the Chairman of the Athletics Visiting Committee.
He was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, Jefferson Lodge No. 15 in Lewes, Shrine Club of Delaware, Kent and Sussex Scottish Rite Club, the Shield and Square Club, Reserve Officers Assoc., the Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club, and All Saints' Episcopal Church.
An avid sports enthusiast, Buck enjoyed fishing, golfing, and hunting with friends and family and following the Delaware Blue Hens. He was the first sports writer for "The Whale"newspaper and has been inducted to both the University of Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife Joan Marshall Thompson; daughter Shelly Sposato and husband Fred of Milton; daughter Kathy Booth Reed and husband John of Georgetown; and brother Leroy Thompson of Lewes. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Marshall Owings and wife Christine, Casey Owings, William (Buck) Booth, Meg Booth Lawson and husband Cliff, Allisa Booth, Mark Booth, and Spencer Booth and three step-grandchildren, Alison Sposato, Jennifer Reed, and John Reed, Jr.
Visitation will be held Saturday, April 29, 6-8 PM at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Funeral services will be held at the Atkins-Lodge Chapel on Sunday, April 30, 1 PM with Rev. Max Wolf officiating. Burial will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery-Pilottown Rd., Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tunnell Cancer Center, Beebe Medical Center, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958 or to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Send online condolences to:
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