by Fred Bock, Lynn Clock, Bob Wilson and Bob Wilke

The world of barbershop singers has lost one of their own when GEORGE H. THOMPSON died on August 23, 2000 at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He left behind many lives that he touched through his concerns for others, his humor, his good nature, and the pride he took in all that he did and said.

George was born on November 9, 1936 in Warren, Indiana, the son of Elijah and Dortha Jones Thompson. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics. Later he received his Masters Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. He moved from El Paso to Lompoc in 1965 and was employed for 40 years with civil service, retiring from Vandenberg Air Force Base as a computer engineer in 1995. He was happily married to Nancy, of Lompoc, for 43 years and together they raised two children; Kathy Guthrie of Long Beach and John Thompson also of Long Beach.

Among many things George enjoyed were breeding & raising horses and singing. He was a member of several Horse Associations and two barbershop chapters. Actually, he started his singing activities when he sang in school choirs as he was growing up. He was also an active singer in the Lompoc First Presbyterian Church. But the sound of a barbershop quartet caught his interest when he joined the San Luis Obispo Chapter. Then in 1969 he was the founder and charter member of the Lompoc Chapter of SPEBSQSA, Inc.

As a member of the Lompoc Chapter, he held all offices except secretary and treasurer. When the chapter was in need of a Music Director, George took over that position for several years. But his real love was singing in a barbershop quartet. He sang in so many quartets, as either a lead or baritone, space doesn't permit mentioning all the names (He really enjoyed the challenge of singing baritone). He was the driving force in getting the Lompoc Chapter involved in "Singing Valentines", taking reservations for quartets, buying roses, and coordinating the quartet engagements. He also got the Chapter involved with the town "bed race" by having quartets entertain the crowds. Because of this activity, the Chapter received a Special Category First Prize.

George spent many hours working with boys at Cabrillo High School helping to form quartets and instruct them in proper singing techniques. His reward came when several of the youth quartets placed in the top medals at the Far Western District Quartet Contests for Young Men In Harmony.

In 1999, he was the driving force in organizing a successful dinner show at the Marriott of Santa Barbara in Buellton where the combined chapters of Lompoc and Santa Barbara presented a wonderful evening of eating and singing. It was in 1999 when he joined the Santa Barbara Chapter while maintaining an active membership in the Lompoc Chapter. He was President of the Lompoc Chapter and Program V.P. of the Santa Barbara Chapter. Even before joining the S.B. Chapter, he was well known by many of the members.

A man of many talents, George designed and built the sound shell that the Lompoc Chapter has used these past 29 years. He and Nancy are well noted for their hospitality and the many barbecues held at their ranch. He also assisted with the S.B. annual barbecue last year.

Yes, the barbershop world will certainly miss George and the joy of being with him, sharing a song, a tag, a joke, or by just having him call you a friend. He has given so much to so many, and he always did it with a big smile. GEORGE THOMPSON loved to "Keep the Whole World Singing".

(This story was published in the November 1985 issue of the Lompoc Chapter, Forget-Me-Notes. Since this article is about 15 years old, some of the data concerning the then status of the family is outdated.)

George Thompson was born in Warren, Indiana. Because of his brother's asthma, the family moved to Crane, Texas when George was twelve. George still remembers a very wealthy man in Crane, by the name of Tom Cowden, who herded his cattle with a Lincoln Continental. He gave all 44 students in his graduating class a ten dollar bill. As a sophomore in high school, George sang in the school chorus, and later sang as a member of the Texas All State Chorus.

George went to college at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he majored in mathematics and minored in physics. He got through school by working six months and going to school six months. His work time was split between a co-op program at White Sands Missile Range and a pitch and putt golf course.

After college he went to work for Civil Service -- transferring from Army Civil Service to Air Force Civil Service in 1965. During these years he worked as a draftsman, a computer operator and a computer programmer. In 1971 George went back to college. He attended the University of Southern California (Vandenberg Extension) where he earned a Master's Degree in Management Science. In 1973 he attended Purdue University for two years. In 1980 George began teaching an evening class in Computer Science at Allan Hancock College. George is currently involved in the Space Shuttle Test Group -- Computer systems Division, at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

George met his wife Nancy in 1955, and they were married on September 8th, 1958. They have a daughter, Kathy, who is married and lives in Fresno; and a son, John, who is living in Lompoc. George was introduced to barbershopping in 1963 when he attended a barbershop show in El Paso, Texas. It was not until 1966, however, that he joined the society and became a member of the San Luis Obispo Chapter. He remembers traveling to San Luis Obispo with Kelly Phelps, Fred Bock, Curley Weeks and Al Godden every Monday night for rehearsals. In 1967, under the direction of Bill Borah, they went to competition. They placed next to last. . . which was not really bad, considering the director lost his pitch pipe during their performance. It slipped through his belt and down into his pants. George said it was tough keeping a straight face and his mind on the song.

In 1973 and 1974, while attending Purdue, George was the Assistant Musical Director for the Lafayette, Indiana Chapter. George started raising registered quarter horses in 1981 and now has fifteen horses on a twenty acre ranch outside of Lompoc. Through the years George has been very thankful and grateful for the constant, loving and loyal support of his wife, Nancy. In addition to her many domestic duties, she also works as a mathematician for the Air Force Western Space And Missile Center. As for our Lompoc Chapter, George has only one wish . . . that it keeps on growing in size and in quality.

Lynn R. Clock