In memoriam: Guy Thompson
Guy Allen Thompson, a biochemist who worked with plants and a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology since 1970, died Feb. 23, 2022. He was 90.
Thompson was born May 31, 1931, in a small Mississippi Delta farming town, where he developed a love of nature and an interest in local birds. After graduating as valedictorian of his small consolidated school, he attended Mississippi State College. He worked summers building roads and monitoring cotton cultivation before graduating with a degree in chemistry. Thompson served in the Air Force before earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the California Institute of Technology, and then did postdoctoral work at the University of Manchester in the U.K. In 1960 he met and married Eileen Wood.
After six years on the faculty at the University of Washington, Thompson took a position in the botany department at the University of Texas, where he taught for 53 years until his retirement. He published more than 150 scientific papers and book chapters as well as two technical books. Thompson advanced to full professor in 1974 and served as botany department chair from 1996 to 2000. He was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1989.
“Guy’s biochemical work was generally done in his laboratories, but he always envied his more botanical colleagues who spent time outdoors on field trips or other research activities,” a family obituary stated.
After becoming professor emeritus at the age of 70, Thompson volunteered for activities such as gardening at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, making trails at a nature conservancy preserve, and monitoring wildfire danger for the city of Austin. He enjoyed doing outdoor chores at home and worked for 12 years as a landscaper at the local library.
Guy and Eileen Thompson also traveled extensively after his retirement, and he renewed his childhood interest in birdwatching.
Thompson is survived by his wife; his three children, Sally Macklin, Gillian Verga and Jeremy Thompson and their spouses; and five grandchildren.
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in People
People highlights or most popular articles
How HCMV hijacks host cells — and beyond
Ileana Cristea, an ASBMB Breakthroughs webinar speaker, presented her research on how viruses reprogram cell structure and metabolism to enhance infection and how these mechanisms might link viral infections to cancer and other diseases.
Understanding the lipid link to gene expression in the nucleus
Ray Blind, an ASBMB Breakthroughs speaker, presented his research on how lipids and sugars in the cell nucleus are involved in signaling and gene expression and how these pathways could be targeted to identify therapeutics for diseases like cancer.
In memoriam: William S. Sly
He served on the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Council in 2005 and 2006 and was an ASBMB member for 35 years.
ASBMB committees welcome new members
Members joined these committees: Education and Professional Development, Maximizing Access, Meetings, Membership, Public Affairs Advisory, Science Outreach and Communication, Student Chapters and Women in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Cadichon honored for academic achievement
She won the State University of New York at Old Westbury’s Dr. Henry Teoh Award for Outstanding Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program Graduating Senior, which recognizes exceptional achievement, leadership and promise in a student.
In memoriam: Ralph G. Yount
He was a professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Washington State University and an ASBMB member for 58 years.