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IN MEMORIAM
J. NEILS THOMPSON
J. Neils Thompson,
professor emeritus of civil engineering died on Friday, September
25, 1998, in Austin. His passing deprived the University of Texas
of a multifaceted and extremely loyal member of the University
community — a scholar, an athlete, an administrator, a visionary,
and an honest and hardworking ambassador to the public and civic
associations that surround the University community. Those who
were privileged to work closely with him know that Neils never
acted in self-interest. His overwhelming motivation in life was
to advance each and every person who shared his world of UT,
and above all to advance the honor and prestige of his beloved
University.
Professor Thompson was a native Texan. He was born in Canyon, Texas, on
October 14, 1912, to Pat Thompson and Winnie (Anderson) Thompson. The family
moved to Bay City where his father was prominent in the automobile business
and served as mayor. Growing up in Bay City, he developed a love of sports
and other athletic skills. He played football for Texas after he entered
the University in 1930. Playing as an end and wearing number 23, he played
in the historic 1934 game against Notre Dame. Texas defeated the highly
favored Fighting Irish 7 to 6 and gained national prominence for the Southwest
Conference. Throughout his life, Neils remained active as a participant
in athletics, especially as a highly skilled golfer. He was a long-time
member of the Austin Country Club.
Professor Thompson received his BS in civil engineering in 1935.
This was the last engineering class to graduate under the legendary
Dean T. U. Taylor.
The "Old Man," Dean T. U. Taylor, did not believe in the concept of graduation
with honors for his college. At commencement, Dean Taylor lauded Neils
for his active participation in varsity football and graduation with a
strong A average. This was a highly distinctive kudo. Professor Thompson's
lifelong dedication to the concept of the "student-athlete" was based on
his personal experience and example.
In 1935, he was employed as a research assistant engineer by the Texas
Highway Department (THD). He worked for THD through the ensuing Great Depression
as a testing and research engineer, dealing largely with properties of
concrete materials and concrete pavements. During this period, he met his
wife, Wanda Stephens, who was also employed by THD. They were married on
August 3, 1940, at the University United Methodist Church in Austin.
In 1941, several senior members of the civil engineering faculty invited
Neils to return to the University to help launch research initiatives in
what had been almost exclusively a teaching program. He was able to move
several of his ongoing studies from THD to the University where he was
appointed in 1941 as an instructor. He received his MSCE in 1944 and advanced
rapidly through the professorial ranks, becoming a full professor in 1949.
In 1993, he became a professor emeritus. During this period, Neils provided
important leadership as the civil engineering faculty and program grew
tenfold.
Throughout his over fifty years of service on the University
faculty, Neils thoroughly enjoyed firsthand contact with students
in the classroom. He
taught courses in civil engineering materials, plain concrete, and engineering
law, ethics, and management. He remained active in teaching in the latter
area until shortly before his death. His senior course, CE 379, Professional
Engineering Management, remained extremely popular as an elective. Most
civil engineering graduates were greatly influenced by Professor Thompson's
blend of law, management, finance, and professional ethics — constantly
updated to reflect changes in society but always with a bedrock foundation
in honesty and personal integrity. Professor Thompson maintained contact
with many of his former students long after they graduated.
Neils Thompson supervised an active research program in the fields of materials,
experimental mechanics, structures, sonic boom research, and housing research
(including building codes, standards, and zoning). He received over five
million dollars in research contracts and grants from the Navy, Army, Air
Force, Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Housing and Urban Development,
the National Research Council, and private industries. He was author or
co-author of over 200 technical publications, books, papers, and reports
in his research areas. In 1953, one of his papers was awarded the Wason
Medal by the American Concrete Institute for the most distinguished paper
on materials research. Professor Thompson on several occasions very self-effacingly
proclaimed that his greatest research contribution was coaxing his close
colleague, Professor Phil M. Ferguson, to join him in laboratory studies
at a time when Professor Ferguson was already well past 50 years of age.
Professor Ferguson's subsequent research career won great international
recognition. Ferguson frequently recognized Neils Thompson as his initial
key collaborator and laboratory mentor.
Professor Thompson supervised a large number of MS and PhD students.
One of his doctoral students, Ervin Perry, became the first African-American
to achieve tenured faculty rank at Texas. Dr. Perry was later honored by
the naming of the Perry-Castaneda Library. Dr. Ned Burns, professor of
civil engineering, worked closely with Neils in the supervision of Ervin
Perry's dissertation research. A close personal friendship existed between
Thompson, Perry, and Burns. Dr. Burns recalls clearly the days when Ervin
Perry would come by his office to report on various interview trips as
he was nearing completion of his PhD study — including an offer of
a position as assistant professor at the University of Illinois, then the
top civil engineering program in the United States. One morning, Ervin
Perry burst into Dr. Burns' office with a big smile and said, "I can talk
to you about something I could not talk about for the past three months.
I'm going to be an assistant professor here at the University of Texas
and it's exactly what I want to do." Then he proceeded to tell Dr. Burns
that Neils Thompson had asked him if he would consider an offer here if
it could be approved through the necessary channels. Dr. Perry indicated
he would be very interested. It was Neils Thompson who saw that Ervin Perry,
a distinguished African-American student, was a faculty member prospect
we should recruit. Without Neils' vision of what this man, Ervin Perry,
could contribute to the UT civil engineering program, it would not have
happened. Just as Neils Thompson had a vision for future value of property
in the acquisition of the 400 acres which became Pickle Research Campus,
he saw the value of UT leading the South in opening their faculty ranks
to a very bright African-American PhD graduate — even though it had
never happened before. [Dr. Perry had a truly distinguished career in teaching
and research, but tragically died of cancer at age 35 — he had already
demonstrated the wisdom of Neils' suggesting to the civil engineering budget
council that recruiting Ervin Perry would be an excellent move.]
J. Neils Thompson, PE, was a registered professional engineer
and throughout his career was extremely active in promoting the
professional issues and
responsibility of engineering practice. He served as president of the Travis
chapter, Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) in 1950, and as
president of TSPE in 1953. His service to the profession was recognized
by election as a director of the National Society of Professional Engineers
(NSPE) from 1955-62, vice president (1962-65) and president (1965-66).
In 1960, he was named "Engineer of the Year" by the Travis chapter of TSPE.
His national and international technical and professional society
assignments received widespread recognition. He received the
Silver Certificate from
the Society for Experimental Stress Analysis in May 1969. Because of his
important research in masonry, he was made an honorary member of the Bricklayers
International Union in 1967. In September of 1972, he received the Special
Achievement Award for his service to the U. S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development for his important role as chair of the Technical Advisory
Committee of OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH. He was elected a "Fellow" of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science in 1968, a "Fellow" in the American
Concrete Institute in December 1973, and a "Fellow" in the American Society
of Civil Engineers in September 1974. In 1977, he received a Quarter Century
Citation for his services with the Building Research Advisory Board of
the National Academy of Science. The Texas Engineering Foundation presented
the Distinguished Engineer Citation to him in 1979. He was also elected
to the Board of Direction of the American Concrete Institute. He was one
of five specialists on building materials and building technology representing
the U. S. State Department on a joint U. S.-Egyptian study group in 1975.
He was the only educator who served on the General Services Administration's
Special Study Committee on the Selection of Architects/Engineers in 1974.
He was chairman of Panel I on Materials and Construction Optimization of
the ad hoc Committee on Hardening of Materials for Ground Base Facilities
of Ballistic Missile Defense Systems, National Advisory Board of the National
Academy of Science. In 1970, he was appointed to the Building Research
Advisory Board, National Academies of Science and Engineering, serving
as vice chairman, 1974-77, and chairman, 1977-79. He served as consultant
to many engineering and architectural firms, and to industry and government
in the fields of materials and structural mechanics. He was a director
of a bank and chairman of the board of two high tech companies. His memberships
in professional societies include the National Society of Professional
Engineers, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American
Society for Testing and Materials, American Society of Civil Engineers,
American Society for Engineering Education, Society for Experimental Stress
Analysis, and American Concrete Institute.
Relatively few faculty members ever made the lasting contributions to the
future direction of their University that Neils Thompson provided in his
long-term role in research management. During the late 1940s, Professor
Thompson became convinced that research at UT was limited because facilities
on campus could not accommodate growth. More and more veterans were returning
from the war and the engineering programs were expanding. He had the foresight
to see how an abandoned magnesium plant eight miles north of the campus
could be converted into a research center. He negotiated a twenty-year
lease with the U. S. government through the office of Congressman Lyndon
Baines Johnson. This working relationship continued through LBJ's presidency.
He also developed a very close working relationship with another former
UT athlete, Congressman J. J. (Jake) Pickle. He worked closely with him
on negotiating the 1971 acquisition of title from the federal government.
The 400-acre site was first known as the Off-Campus Research Facility,
then Balcones Research Center, and now J. J. (Jake) Pickle Research Campus.
As the Center's original and only director, Professor Thompson was present
at the 1971 ceremony marking the title transfer of the property to the
University. The government waived the $1.4 million purchase price after
determining that the research work already performed there had greatly
benefited the public.
Neils was able to see his embryonic dreams of a nationally prominent graduate
research center become a reality from the decaying and abandoned buildings
of the wartime defense plant. His role as proponent, advocate, administrator,
and advisor to the directors of fledgling technical laboratories was critical
in the development of the research center into an integral, important part
of the University's research program. His role in the development of this
research center was the professional achievement that gave Professor Thompson
the greatest feelings of pride and satisfaction. The University of Texas
owes him a great debt for his long-range practical vision for the acquisition
of the property that became an extremely important research campus for
the university.
Throughout his research management career, Neils Thompson shared
his vast array of personal, governmental, and corporate contacts
with faculty associates
desirous of launching new research activities. Many important research
centers and prestigious researchers owe their development to the unselfish
efforts of Neils Thompson, the "Research Gardener."
Professor Thompson's research management skills benefited the
City of Austin as well as UT. In 1973-74 he was president of
the Board of Directors of
the Austin Chamber of Commerce and served for five years as vice president
for Economic Development. He was influential in getting IBM and other technology
companies to move to Austin. In 1970, he received the Economics Award from
the Economic Development Council of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. The
Austin City Council recognized his efforts by naming a new street in the
Northwest Research Corridor "J. Neils Thompson Drive." He was president
of the Austin Country Club in 1957, president of the Austin Kiwanis Club
in 1954, and is a past president of the Austin Methodist City Board of
Missions. He served with distinction as vice chair of the board of trustees
of St. Edward's University from which he received an Honorary Doctorate
in Humane Letters in 1996.
His numerous honors include election to Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon, Sigma
Xi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Phi. He is listed in Engineers of
Distinction in the United States and Canada, 1974; and had repeated listings
in Who's Who in Engineering, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's
Who in American Education, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the Methodist
Church, Who's Who in Commerce and Industry, Who's Who in Texas Today, and
National Engineers Register.
He received the Joe J. King Professional Engineer Achievement Award in
1980 from the UT College of Engineering. In 1982, he was honored by his
former students with the creation of the J. Neils Thompson Centennial Teaching
Fellowship in Civil Engineering and, in 1984, his department established
the J. Neils Thompson Graduate Fellowship in Structural Engineering. Later,
at his retirement, Neils Thompson suggested the money collected at this
occasion be added to the endowment for this fellowship. Over the years,
many graduate students have benefited from this fellowship. One unique
feature is that the recipients must write a short paper on the importance
of ethics in engineering. This was at the suggestion of Neils Thompson
who for over fifty years had taught the importance of ethics to his students.
The endowment fund for this J. Neils Thompson Graduate Fellowship in Structural
Engineering remains open and received many contributions at the time of
his death.
As befits an individual who was totally dedicated to the concept of the
scholar-athlete, Professor Thompson's contributions to college athletics
are equally outstanding. He served on the UT Men's Athletic Council for
over twenty years and was chairman for seventeen years. Legendary Coach
Darrell K Royal credits Neils with creating an atmosphere and support staff
that permitted Coach Royal to pay full attention to the creation of Texas
national champion teams. For many years he was the faculty representative
to the Southwest Athletic Conference and served as vice president, then
president, during the years from 1971 to 1974. One of Professor Thompson's
fondest memories as a proactive athletic faculty member was the success
in getting Texas Tech and the University of Houston into the Southwest
Athletic Conference. Professor Thompson had great influence in the deliberations
of the Southwest Conference and the NCAA. In part this was because he represented
a university that is an important part of both of those organizations.
But his influence stemmed much more from the fact that he was Neils Thompson.
His integrity was so great and his knowledge on the various issues was
so comprehensive that people listened carefully every time he spoke, and
it was a rare occasion when his view did not carry the day. He was a member
of a number of committees of the National Collegiate Athletic Association,
and served as president in 1977 and 1978.
One time during a flight home to Austin from Arkansas, Professor Thompson
sketched a design to give Frank Erwin, chairman of the Board of Regents.
It was a plan to expand the west side of Memorial Stadium and ultimately
led to the realization of Bellmont Hall and the upper west deck and press
box. He was also instrumental in the design and construction of the Frank
Erwin Special Events Center, Disch-Falk Field, and the UT Swim Center.
In recognition of his many contributions, he was inducted into the Longhorn
Hall of Honor in 1979.
Throughout his long and distinguished career in intercollegiate sports
management, Neils was a leading advocate for honesty, integrity, and justice
for student athletes. He felt strongly that a level playing field was the
first requirement for quality in intercollegiate athletics. He believed
in playing by the rules and by his leadership helped maintain the University's
reputation for integrity in its athletics programs. He maintained active
contact with many of the Texas student athletes long after they graduated.
Neils was in a unique way a "Renaissance Man" for the University.
Because of his key roles in teaching, research, and athletics,
for many years he
reported simultaneously to the civil engineering department budget council
and chair, the dean of engineering, the president, and the Board of Regents.
He wore many hats and juggled many balls in a truly unique style.
Professor Thompson is survived by his widow, Wanda. Throughout
Neils' life at UT, Wanda was his partner in his activities and
dedicated much of her
energy to "mothering" Neils' graduate students, young faculty, coaching
staff/families, scholar-athletes, and the extended body of UT fans everywhere.
They had one daughter, Patricia (Thompson) Laitala of Richardson, Texas,
who with her husband Wayne Laitala presented Neils with two grandsons and
namesakes, Michael Neils Laitala and David Thompson Laitala. Professor
Thompson is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Glendine Short of Bay City,
Texas, and three nephews, Michael Wade of Bay City, Texas, Dr. Pat Wade
of Emporia, Kansas, and Harry Sockol of Lake Travis.
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution
was prepared by a special committee consisting of Professors John
E. Breen (chair), Charles Alan Wright, L. O. Morgan, Ned H. Burns,
and Richard L. Tucker.
Distributed
to the Dean of the College
of Engineering, the Executive
Vice President and Provost,
and the President on December
7, 1999. Copies are available on request from the Office of the
General Faculty, FAC 22, F9500. This resolution is posted under "Memorials" at: http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/ .
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