William M. Thompson, Class of 1935

William M. Thompson ’35 played both basketball and baseball on some of Peddie’s best teams and returned to coach the same sport as well as serving as the Director of Athletics for four decades.

Bill won two major letters in his year at Peddie. He was an outstanding first baseman on the same team as legendary professional player George Case ’36.

He also played forward on the basketball team which only lost to one prep school opponent that year.

Bill graduated in 1935, returned to Peddie after graduating from Syracuse where he had another exceptional athletic career. Bill taught social studies at Peddie and then served in the Navy during World War II. When he returned, Bill took over the basketball coaching reins from Carl Geiger in 1947 and coached the team to successful seasons. Bill guided the Peddie baseball team to a 93-80-1 record in 11 seasons with a state championship in 1954.

Coach Thompson was honored by the school which named the varsity baseball diamond “William M. Thompson ’35 Baseball Field” in his honor. Bill’s leadership and athletic prowess as an athlete, coach and Director of Athletics set an example for all to follow.