OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - BIOS: THOMPSON Surname (published 1925)
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February 2, 1999
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THE HISTORY OF OHIO - The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925
Volume III, page 213

        W. T. THOMPSON. A prominent figure in the real estate business at
Columbus ten years or more has been W. T. Thompson. Mr. Thompson comes of
an old and prominent Ohio family. In early life he was a teacher, and is
one of the men of exceptional ability in the Real Estate Association at
Columbus.
        His grandfather, William Thompson, married Nancy Reed, and they
came from their native State of Virginia shortly after their marriage,
settling at Lebanon in Warren County, Ohio, in 1832. They acquired land
just north of Lebanon, and developed a farm from the woods, spending the
rest of their days in that community, where they died honored and respected
when about seventy years of age. They were members of the old Hardshell
Baptist Church of Lebanon.
        Their son, Joseph J. Thompson, was born at the old homestead,
devoted his active career to farming in that locality, and for the past
fifteen years has been a retired resident of San Diego, California. While
in Ohio he served as the president of the Board of Infirmary Directors.
Joseph J. Thompson married Angeline Hoagland, of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
        W. T. Thompson was born at the old home near Lebanon, attended
public schools there, and finished his education at the National Normal
University at Lebanon, under Professor Holbrook. Mr. Thompson spent six
years in educational work, teaching in district and village schools. His
connection with the real estate business at Columbus began in 1912. He is a
member of the general brokerage firm of Thompson McClure Company. This firm
has a complete organization for real estate service, including brokerage,
sales and investment department, and also secretary and treasurer of the
Central States Realty Company, a holding company owning an extensive
warehouse property in Columbus.
        Mr. Thompson married Miss Mary Meloy, of Lebanon. She is active in
the Woman's Club and the Federation of Woman's Clubs and belongs to the
Realtor's Club, made up of the wives of real estate board members.

Volume I, page 473, 474, 475, 476
Chapter II - INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING - Ohio State University
(I am just forwarding the paragraphs that mention Thompson, there is
additional information relating to the University which I am not including.)

Page 473
        On July 1, 1899, William Oxley Thompson was installed as the fifth
president of the university. On his seventieth birthday, November 5, 1925,
he retired from office, after a continuous service of over twenty-six
years. Doctor Thompson is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, spent several
years in the ministry, but from 1885 his service was the educational field.
In 1891 he was elected president of Miami University, and from that
institution accepted the call to Ohio State. Thus the best years of his
life have been given to the cause of higher education in Ohio.

Page 474 with photo
        "As the history of Ohio State University is written, the growth,
development and inspiration of the last twenty-five years will constitute
one of its proudest epochs. Upon the foundation so firmly laid by those who
preceded him, it has been the privilege and opportunity of William Oxley
Thompson to direct the upbuilding of a great institution, worthy of the
citizenship it would serve. As an able and far-sighted administrator, he
has met and discharged, with increasing success and wisdom, the problems
pertaining to a tenfold increase in attendance, and an expenditure
commensurate with and attendant upon the ever-widening fields of university
service. Upon the lives of a larger number of men and women of the state
than any other person, he has, by personal example, set the impress of his
own character and ideals. To no one of his generation is the commonwealth
under greater obligations; to no one does it accord higher respect. A power
for civic righteousness; a lover of his fellowmen; a broad-minded,
generous, courteous Christian gentleman:
"Truly he has had
The heart to conceive,
The understanding to direct,
And the hand to execute."

Page 475
        At the beginning of President Thompson's administration the area of
the campus and farm was practically the same as when the college was
founded. Without provisions for more land the College of Agriculture could
not have been retained at Columbus. Such provisions have been made, largely
through extensions west of the Olentangy River, until the estate of the
university now comprises 1,100 acres being set aside for recreative uses,
including the site of the Stadium.

Page 476
        On the retirement of Doctor Thompson November 5, 1925, the
executive administration of the university devolved upon George W.
Rightmire, as acting president. Professor Rightmire for some years has held
a chair in the college of law, and is both an able and popular figure in
university circles.


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