William Hayton Thompson (1909-2012)

THOMPSON, COVAULT

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/31/2012 at 08:29:09

From Adams & Soderstrum Funeral Home obituary, Story County, Iowa:

William H. Thompson

BORN: October 13, 1909
DIED: June 10, 2012
LOCATION: Ames, Iowa

A native of Scranton, PA., William Hayton (Bill) Thompson earned a B.S. degree from Bloomsburg State College in Bloomsburg, PA., an M.S. from Syracuse University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Iowa State where he was a member of the faculty for 35 years.

Bill developed and taught courses on Transportation and Logistics in the Department of Industrial Administration, now the College of Business. He was a consultant to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Northwestern and Rock Island Railroads, the Iowa Commerce Council, and the Iowa Grain Dealers Association and represented Governors Hughes and Ray on the Midwest Governors Transportation Council. In 1980, he was named "Transportation Man of the Year" by the Des Moines Transportation club and was honored by the American Economic Association as an "Outstanding Professor."

During World War II, he was an instructor in the Naval Intelligence School in Oxford, Ohio. In 1948, he was commissioned an intelligence officer in the Army Reserve. He later became commanding officer of the reserve unit at Iowa State and retired as a full colonel in 1961.
Bill Thompson held several leadership positions during his career at Iowa State, including Chairman of the Manuscript Committee at the Iowa State Press, chairman of the University Athletic Council, and Chairman of the Industrial Administration Department. After he retired, he wrote Transportation in Iowa: A Historical Summary. He was a founding member of the American Society of Transportation & Logistics; held memberships in the Masonic Lodge, Elks Club, and Kiwanis Club; and was selected for inclusion in Who's Who in America and American Men of Science.

Bill passed away June 10, 2012 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames at 102 years of age.

Bill's marriage to Evelyn Covault in 1938 lasted nearly fifty years until her death in 1987 and produced four children: Louise, Larry, Neil, and Mary. Bill's second marriage to Ione K. Sieben ended with her passing in 2003. His dear companion of the last nine years, Janet Wallen, survives him, as do his four children, ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Contributions in memory of Bill Thompson can be sent to the Thompson Scholarship Fund in the College of Business at Iowa State University.

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