Douglas P. Thompson

Douglas P. Thompson, 83, of Beaumont, passed away August 3, 2010. He was born January 9, 1927, in Greenville, Texas, and graduated from Greenville High School. After graduation, Doug attended Baylor University in Waco. During World War II, he served in the Army Tank Destroyer Unit in the Philippines. Upon completion of his service, he returned to Baylor University and graduated with a B. A. Degree.
Doug chose a career in television and worked with stations in Dallas, Lubbock and San Angelo, Texas. He met his wife, Jo Ann, while employed at a TV station in Texarkana, Texas. They were married in 1954 and later moved to Port Arthur, Texas, where he helped put KJAC-TV on the air as Program Manager. In 1959 they moved to Waco where he taught at Baylor University and worked with the Temple-Waco television station. In 1961, he and his wife and two children moved to Beaumont where he became General Manager for KBMT-TV. He remained there until it was sold in 1977. In 1977 he opened Thompson & Associates Advertising Agency where he worked with many clients handling their advertising.
He is past president of the Beaumont Kiwanis Club, Sales & Marketing, Rotary and the Beaumont Ad Club. He was an Elder, teacher and member of First Christian Church of Beaumont.
Doug is preceded in death by his wife, Jo Ann, in 2004. He is survived by his daughter Sheree Thompson of Houston; son, Jay Thompson and his wife Denise of Plano; and three grandchildren, Stacy, Drew and Cody.
Services will be held Friday, August 6, 2010, at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home. A gathering of friends and family will be Thursday, August 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Internment will be at noon Saturday in the Sparkman-Hillcrest Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions in Doug's memory to the Stuart Class of First Christian Church, Some Other Place or First Christian Church of Beaumont.