Richard Baxter "R.B." THOMPSON

THOMPSON, ECKARDT, NAGLE, HANSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/8/2007 at 18:25:57

January 2, 2007

Richard (R.B.) Thompson, 97, a pioneer of the hybrid seed corn business, died on Monday, December 25, 2006, at his apartment in San Leandro, California, from complications of a recent stroke. A memorial service will be held in Belmond at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Belmond United Church of Christ or the Belmond Library Foundation.

Richard Baxter, was born at Olaf, near Belmond, on November 8, 1909. He lived in Belmond his entire life except for two years while attending college and the past year in California to be near his son. He attended rural school and the Belmond High School. While attending Iowa State University in the late 1920's, Rich became aware of research in cross breeding varieties of corn. He returned to Belmond and began experimenting in a two acre corner of the small family farm and converted a hog house into a dryer using a brooder stove. Thompson Hybrid Corn Company was founded in 1934. Through growth and merger and acquisition with the Clarke, Carlson and Steckley Seed Companies, the business was variously known as Tomahawk, Tomco, and Tomco Genetic Giant. In the mid-1960's a Houston conglomerate, Anderson Clayton, acquired the business and merged their brand Paymaster Seeds, and another acquisition Haapala Brothers of Minnesota, with Tomco and operated under the name ACCO. Product lines included corn, sorghum, cotton and safflower. The division headquarters remained in Belmond and Rich was President until his retirement in 1970. He served on several committees of the American Seed Trade Association and the U. S. Feed Grains Council during his career. In Belmond, Rich was a co-founder of the Toastmasters Club, an early member of the Lions Club, a fireman for 11 years, a Belmond Library Board member for 31 years, and a director on the board of First Belmond Bancorporation for 19 years. He was a member of the Belmond United Church of Christ. Rich was an avid reader, golfer, bridge player and ballroom dancer.

Rich was preceded in death by his two wives, Margrette Eckardt and Maxine Nagle. He is survived by his sister, Gail Hanson of Hudson, Wisconsin; son, Dudley Thompson of El Cerrito, California; and step-son, Mark Nagle of Des Moines.

©Belmond Independent 2007