Reflections

Dr. Jack Thompson, Jr. developed a desire to become a dentist because of his grandfather (who was a dentist). He always enjoyed working with his hands so after graduating from the University of Richmond, he enrolled in the MCV School of Dentistry. After completing a residency program in the U.S. Air Force, he decided to set up a solo practice in the rural community of Gordonsville. He enjoyed providing “a little bit of every type” of dentistry to this community. His son (Jack “Jay” Thompson III, D.D.S. ’97) grew up watching his father practice rural dentistry and decided to follow in his footsteps by also serving in the military (in his case, the Army) and also joining his father’s practice. He decided not to specialize and took over his father’s practice in 2007. Thompson, Jr. retired from chair side dentistry in 2018 after practicing for 50 years. This scholarship was created in 2018 as a way to help perpetuate future dentists who have the desire to practice in a rural setting.

Mrs. Margaret Thompson had already earned a B.S. in chemistry and did not work in that field until after their youngest of their three children was in school. Jack had a hard time finding a hygienist for his practice so Margaret decided (at the age of 40) to enroll in the VCU Dental hygiene program. She enjoyed being her husband’s dental hygienist for 32 years.