Los Angeles
County
Biographies
DONALD A. THOMPSON
An
interesting career is that of Donald A. Thompson. After intensive study of Savings and Loan
subjects, thorough training and practical experience in business and finance,
he came to Alhambra in 1946, and in fifteen years has risen to the position of
Senior Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of First Federal
Savings & Loan Association of Alhambra, 1 West Bay State Street, Alhambra.
Mr.
Donald A. Thompson was born on June 4, 1917, in Jersey City, New Jersey. His mother’s maiden name was Edith M.
Logan. His father, Andrew C. Thompson,
was port engineer in charge of marine personnel for Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey. During World War II, he was in
England in charge of Allied Nations oil personnel. The American and British governments gave him
the highest award bestowed on a civilian.
Mr.
Donald A. Thompson received his elementary education in grammar school and high
schools in Bergen, New Jersey.
His
aim and ambition as a young man was to get into the radio field. He worked as secretary to Mark Connelly,
famous producer and playwright. After
this unsuccessful attempt to find fame, he turned to accounting. In 1936 he took a job with National Cash
Register Co., and was the youngest man ever hired in the accounting machine
department.
Then
he went to Pace Institute in New York, and continued his studies at the
American Savings and Loan Institute where he received a Graduate Diploma for
ten years service. He furthered his
education by attending the University of Indiana for three summers to receive
key-parts of the American Savings & Loan graduate training program. These classes were taught to a restricted
number of students.
He
then held the position as operations officer for Century Federal Savings &
Loan Association in New York, which was the largest one in the country at that
time.
Mr.
Donald A. Thompson married Miss Eugenia De Mooy on
August 31, 1940. They have three
children: Barbara, who attends Mount San
Antonio College; Annette, who goes to West Covina High School, and Glenn, who
attends Covina High School.
Mrs.
Donald A. Thompson had a promising career as a concert harpist. She was recently installed as president of
the Covina Women’s Club, is past president of the Alhambra Rotary Anns.
During
World War II, from 1943 to 1945, Mr. Donald A. Thompson served for 27 months in
the Coast Guard as radarman first class. He received his training at Groton Radar
School.
The
Thompson’s moved to California in 1946.
In the same year Mr. Donald A. Thompson began his career with First
Federal Savings & Loan Association of Alhambra. He is now Senior Vice-President and Member of
the Board of Directors. He is
vice-chairman of the personnel committee of the California Savings & Loan
League, and was called to Washington, D. C., as consultant for revising the
standard accounting manual for United Savings & Loan League. He is one of the founders and past president
of the Society of Savings & Loan Comptrollers, a national organization.
Being
one of the founders of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Savings &
Loan Institute, he has also been on the board of governors of both New York and
Los Angeles chapters several times. He
is not only active in the local chapter, but has taught many diversified
subjects at all three chapters. Mr.
Thompson has taught at Indiana University as well as locally, a number of
subjects important to savings and loan training.
His
fraternal affiliations are with the Covina Masonic Lodge, as junior steward; Al
Malaikah Shrine and the Citrus Shrine Club, where he is on the board of
directors.
He
is past treasurer and director of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and is past
president of the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce.
He is a Rotarian in the Alhambra Rotary Club with a 13-year perfect
attendance record, and has been secretary and on the board of directors several
times. He is also an active worker for
the Republican Party.
He
enjoys a game of golf and good music.
Mr.
Donald A. Thompson believes in the “Free Enterprise System” as a basic way of
life and the way out of America’s fight with socialism.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 706-708, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES