Biography

11/30/1937 - 01/28/2006

Robert J. “Bob” Thompson (R19) Chester (Part) County 1995-2002 (R19) Chester (Part) and Montgomery (Part) Counties 2003-2006

Early Life:

Robert J. “Bob” Thompson, born November 30, 1937, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania; son of Joseph H. and Winifred Mayberry; Tredyffrin-Easttown High School, 1955; Pennsylvania State University, journalism, (B.A.), 1959; West Goshen Township Board of Supervisors, 1970-1976; Chester County, Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners, 1980-1986; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1995-2006; married, Nancy Blackman, three children; died, January 28, 2006, died in office of Senate, pulmonary fibrosis, University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Oaklands Cemetery, West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Journalism, Penn State University, 1959; photographer, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, published in-house magazines, Electric Hose, Rubber Corporation in Wilmington, Lukens Steel Company, and Fidelity Bank; founding director, Chester County Chamber of Commerce.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Immaculata College President’s Council; board member, Chester County Hospital, United Way of Chester County; Chester County Planned Parenthood Advisory Board; elder, First Presbyterian Church of West Chester; Executive director Chamber of Commerce; Vice chairman to chairman Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority; president, Westtown-Goshen Rotary. 

Awards:

Chester County Chamber of Commerce Association Citizen of the Year; Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Award.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 19th district, Special Election, Chester County, November 7, 1995-2002, resignation, Earl Baker; Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 19th district, Chester (Part) and Montgomery (Part) Counties, 2003-2006; committee assignments, Appropriations (Chairman, 2001-2006) Labor and Industry, Local Government, Rules and Executive Nominations, State Government (Vice Chairman); member, Republican Policy, Pennsylvania Fire Fighters and Emergency Services Legislative Caucus, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus; served until his death on January 28, 2006.

The ensuing special election, Democrat Andy Dinniman, defeated Republican Carol Aichele, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent Chester County, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1890.

Legacy:

A delegation of 26 senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R., Blair), a friend since their undergraduate days at Pennsylvania State University, paid tribute saying “he was a man who was not swayed by the trappings of power, nor did he lose sight of his mission as a public servant. In a political world filled with stuffed shirts, he had the confidence to wear Snoopy neckties and red suspenders."

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL No. 1465 Session of 2012 INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, PILEGGI AND RAFFERTY, MARCH 29, 2012. Act No. 137 of 2012, July 5, 2012. 2012 Act 137 (state.pa.us)

Section of PA 3 between Adams Street in West Chester and US 202/US 322 in West Goshen Township named the Robert J. Thompson Highway. A ceremony held with State Senator Andy Dinniman, state Representative Duane Milne, former West Goshen Supervisor Ed Meakim, wife, Nancy Thompson, state Representative Dan Truitt, West Chester Mayor Carolyn Committa, former Chester County Commissioner Pat O’Donnell, October 9, 2012.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "T" (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2005-2006). Schehr, E. (Editor). (Volume 117). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-33, 3-40. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-23.

2012 Act 137 (state.pa.us)

Dinniman Dedicates Robert J. Thompson Highway - Senator Andy Dinniman (archive.org)

Robert J. “Bob” Thompson (1938-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial