John "Jack" Thompson

John "Jack" ThompsonJames "Jack" Thompson
(Football, 1925)


One of the early Danbury High School athletic greats was Jack Thompson. Jack, who graduated in 1925, was a three sport star at DHS with his best sport being baseball. His prowess on the field and on the court earned him an athletic scholarship to Lafayette College in Easton, PA. While at Lafayette Jack played football and baseball which he captained his senior year. Jack Thompson's legacy, however came after his return to Danbury in 1931. It was here that he began organizing and playing in amateur baseball and football leagues. He formed the Danbury Trojans in 1931 and he was general manager, coach and quarterback. For nine years the Trojans were considered the Connecticut semi-pro football champions. Throughout the 1930's Jack also played third base in the Danbury City League and formed the Thompson Grays baseball team which attracted such well-known traveling teams as the Cuban Giants, the Detroit Clowns and the House of David, to Danbury. Then came World War II and Jack was commissioned as a Navy pilot. After the war Jack turned his attention to golf and was an avid "duffer" for over thirty years winning a number of tournaments in and around Danbury. A civic leader throughout his life Jack helped form the Old Timer's Association in 1964 and was inducted into the Old Timer's Hall of Fame. He also took a turn at politics as he ran for mayor, and was defeated by Charles Ducibella, in 1964.