Barry Baird Thompson (May 12, 1936 – March 1, 2014)[1] was an American academic and administrator who served as the chancellor for the Texas A&M University System from 1994 to 1999. Prior to being named chancellor, he served as president of Tarleton State University and West Texas A&M University. He was named the chancellor emeritus upon his retirement in 1999.[2]
Thompson earned an associate degree from Tarleton State and a bachelor's degree in Biology and secondary education from Texas Tech UniversityinLubbock, Texas.[3] Thompson earned a master's degree in administration from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce).[2][3] Following a stint in public schools as a teacher and administrator, he earned a doctorate from Texas A&M University while serving as a professor at Pan American UniversityinEdinburg, Texas. Thompson was a professor and department head at East Texas State University before being named the vice president for academic affairs.[2] He joined Tarleton in a newly created position of executive vice president under president W.O. Trogdon. Upon Trogdon's retirement in 1982, Thompson was named 13th president of Tarleton and held the position until 1990.[4] During his time as president, the university's enrollment and fundraising increased substantially.[3]
Thompson resigned as the Tarleton president at the request of leaders of the Texas A&M University System to become president of the West Texas State University as it became a member of the Texas A&M University System on September 1, 1990.[5][6] Thompson led the university during a time of transition from an independent institution to a member of the statewide system. In 1993, the name of the university was changed to West Texas A&M University to reflect this change in status. In 1994, Thompson left West Texas to become chancellor of the system.[2][5] He served as chancellor until his retirement in 1999, and was succeeded by Howard D. Graves.[7] In total, he worked in Texas public education for 44 years.[1]
Thompson was the recipient of several honors:[1]
The Barry B. Thompson Student Center on the campus of Tarleton State University is named after Thompson.[8]
Thompson was born on May 12, 1936, in Pecos, Texas. He married his high school sweetheart Sandra Sue Davison in 1955 and had four children: Karol, Kim, Scott, and Bart.[1]
