The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Track Legend & Hall of Honor member Jerry Thompson passes away
09.08.2021 | Track & Field / Cross Country
The three-time national champion and Olympian was 98
A former track legend at Texas who was a three-time national champion and a four-time cross country champion, Jerry Thompson passed away on Aug. 26. Thompson also left UT with four All-American honors and is member of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor.
Thompson was a national champion in the two-mile run in 1943 and 1947 and added his final national title in 1948 in the 5,000 meters. The gap in his success was due to his service in the Navy during World War II serving aboard the aircraft carrier Antietam (CV-36) in the Pacific Theater. He dominated the Southwest Conference, earning seven individual titles.
On top of his collegiate success, Thompson represented the United States at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.
His success at Texas led him to be voted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1976, is part of the Drake Relays Hall of Fame and the TexState Texas Running Hall of Fame.
A Bowie, Texas, native was also a member of the DFW Olympics and Paralympians Association.