Charles Collins Thompson facts for kids
Charles Collins Thompson (born July 3, 1898 – died August 5, 1983) was an important person from Texas. He was a judge, a lawyer, a banker, and a rancher. He was born in Erath County, Texas. His parents were Charles Madison Thompson and Annie Margaret Jane Altman.
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Charles Thompson's Early Life and Career
Charles Thompson did not finish college. However, he studied hard and passed a special test to become a lawyer in 1923. Just one year later, in 1924, he was chosen to be the County Judge for Mitchell County.
Helping Farmers and Schools
Charles Thompson cared a lot about his community. In 1932, he helped start the Mitchell County Agricultural Credit Corporation. This group helped farmers get loans. The next year, in 1933, he was elected chairman of the Mitchell County School Board. He stayed in this important role for a very long time, until 1978!
He also had some Native American heritage. In 1978, he was asked to join a special committee for the Texas Cherokees and Associate Bands-Mount Tabor Indian Community. He had Choctaw (Yowani Choctaws) and Chickasaw family roots.
A Leader in Banking
Charles Thompson was also very good with money and business. In 1935, he joined the board of directors for City National Bank in Colorado City, Texas. By 1938, he was the bank's president. Later, in 1955, he became the chairman of its board of directors.
"Mr. Farm Credit"
In 1943, Charles Thompson was chosen to be a director for the Tenth District Farm Credit Board in Houston. He became its chairman in 1952. He was very proud when US President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked him to lead a special committee in 1957. This committee helped farmers and ranchers during a tough drought. Because he worked so hard to help farmers, people started calling him "Mr. Farm Credit."
Making a National Impact
Charles Thompson continued to make a big difference. In 1971, he played a key role in getting the Farm Credit Act passed. This was a big law that helped farmers all across the country. Because of his work, Progressive Farmer magazine named him "Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture" in 1972. He also helped with the Texas Electric Service Company. His work there led to the building of Lake Colorado City, which is an important lake for the area.
Honors from Texas Tech
In 1937, the Governor of Texas, James V. Allred, asked Charles Thompson to join the board of directors for Texas Technological College. Today, this school is known as Texas Tech University. In 1958, Texas Tech gave him a special honorary degree. They even named a student dormitory after him! The university honored him again in 1978. They created a special teaching position, the Charles C. Thompson Professorship, to help students learn about agricultural finance.
Charles Thompson's Community and Family Life
Charles Thompson was very involved in his local community. He served as President of the Colorado City Chamber of Commerce for five years. He also spent more than twenty-five years working on different committees for the West Texas Chamber of Commerce. He was a very religious person. He was a member and a Sunday School teacher at the First United Methodist Church in Colorado City.
Charles Thompson married Ewell Gary on September 12, 1922. She passed away in 1955. Later, Charles married Emabeth Pittman on January 21, 1956. He did not have any children from either marriage. He passed away in Mitchell County, Texas.
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