Dec. 12, 2002

Thompson remembered as global citizen

E.N. "Jack" Thompson, a Nebraska native who founded UNL's E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues, died Dec. 7 in Lincoln. He was 89 years old.

Thompson had been chairman of the Cooper Foundation from 1990 until his death. In 1988 he spearheaded the effort that created the forum, then known as the Cooper-UNL Forum on World Issues. It was renamed for Thompson in 1990. The forum's mission is to promote a better understanding of world events and issues by Nebraskans by bringing in speakers on issues impacting the world. The forum has brought such well-known people to Lincoln as Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Elie Wiesel. The most recent E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues was Dec. 1 and featured rock star Bono and others speaking about AIDS in Africa.

Thompson and his wife also endowed a professorship in contemporary history at UNL.

Annette Wetzel, director of the visitors center and special events, knew Thompson well as part of her membership on the forum's steering committee.

"He was a lover of education who never stopped learning," she said. "He was a global citizen and a champion of higher education. He had such a vision for Nebraska ­ he wanted to bring the world to Nebraska."

Wetzel described Thompson as "a true and kind gentleman who didn't waste words and meant what he said. He knew everyone's value and complimented you for hard work. In response, you would do anything for him.

"What he did for the arts, the humanities, education, things that people think they can forget about during budget cuts, were tremendous. Jack just said, 'No, these are the most important things to value, especially during budget cuts,'" she said.

"His values, his devotion to his family and his wife were just something to be admired," she said. "They just don't make men like that any more."

Thompson graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1933 and studied at the School of Law. He earned a journalism degree from Columbia University in 1935 and worked for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., London, Geneva and Berlin, where he watched the Nazis rise to power. He earned a law degree in 1943 from New York University and later worked at several government offices in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Department of State from 1945-47. Among his accomplishments was work that led to the development of the United Nations.

Thompson returned to Nebraska in 1950 and worked at the First Trust Co., where he was president from 1954-1961. He was president of Cooper Theatres, Inc., from 1964-1979 and was a trustee of the Cooper Foundation from 1953 until his death.

Thompson married Katherine Clarke in 1935. She died earlier this year.

Thompson was involved with many philanthropic organizations in Lincoln and at the university, including the University of Nebraska Foundation and the Lied Center Advisory Committee. He was co-chair of the $10 million campaign to build the Lied Center for Performing Arts. He received dozens of awards, including the 2002 Sower Award in the Humanities from the Nebraska Humanities Council in September, the UNL College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Award of Merit, the Friends of the Lied Award, an honorary doctor of humane letters from the University of Nebraska, and the UNL distinguished service award.

He is survived by a daughter, Kit Dimon, and a son, Art Thompson, both of Lincoln; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Dec. 11 in Lincoln. Memorials may be made to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues Fund, 1111 Lincoln Mall, Suite 200, Lincoln, 68508; St. Matthew's Episcopal Church; The Cooper Foundation; The Nebraska Humanities Council; or the donor's favorite charity.

E-mail condolences to < contact@roperandsons.com>.

Wunder wins Lifetime Achievement Award

John R. Wunder, professor of history, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Western History Association during its annual meeting. The award is given for exemplary scholarship in Native American history and commitment to assisting Native American students and Indian communities. He is the sixth recipient of this award.

Wunder is the author of "Retained by the People: A History of American Indians and the Bill of Rights." He has worked with many Indian students and communities over the years, including his involvement with the return of the Omaha Indian Nation's Sacred Pole, the retention of Indian languages in UNL's curriculum and his sponsorship of Indian student organizations.