A Lion at Heart
Al Thompson, DDS '60
Note: Renuka Bijoor ’03, Peds ’05 suggested a profile of Al Thompson after spending an afternoon with him to learn more about his rich life story. When she asked Dr. Thompson the secret to his passion for dentistry, he replied, “Information is everything. Assume nothing!” Dr. Bijoor adds: “Most alumni have interacted with Dr. Thompson at some point during their time at CDM. An imposing figure with a booming voice, it’s nearly impossible to miss him. I first met him at a networking event soon after I graduated. After engaging me in conversation, he invited me to join the Admissions Committee at CDM. That was 17 years ago, and every Friday when the committee met it was fantastic to see Dr. Thompson still going strong and giving back to CDM.” The article below was updated from a profile published in 2010 by Columbia University Athletics.
In recent years, the sport of track & field has evolved. New shoes, new gear, new training surfaces, new training methods and an influx of talented athletes to the Columbia Athletics program have led to an essential re-writing of the Columbia track & field record books. But there is one name that has withstood the test of time: Dr. Albert J. Thompson, whose throwing records have remained untouched for over six decades.
A native New Yorker, Dr. Thompson came to Morningside Heights with three individual New York City high school titles he earned while at George Washington High School. At Columbia, he continued to add to his trophy collection. It wasn’t until his junior season that Dr. Thompson truly began to blossom as a thrower. In 1953, he dominated the Ivy League in throwing events, winning titles at both the indoor and outdoor Heptagonal Championships. Indoors, he won titles in the 35-pound weight throw and the shot put and continued into the spring, adding an outdoor championship in the shot put. That season, he was one of the best shot putters in the nation, as he was ranked fourth overall for the duration of the season. He followed that up with an indoor title in the shot put his senior year and a second-place finish in discus at the outdoor championships. In all, he graduated with six top-three finishes in the shot put, discus, and weight throw in both the Ivy League and the IC4A championships. He also set the school record for shot put, which has not been touched since 1954.
Upon graduation in 1954, Dr. Thompson served as a lieutenant in the Naval Reserves and continued his throwing career there. He had the opportunity to compete at the 1956 Armed Forces Track & Field championships, finishing in the top three in both shot put and the discus. He also qualified for the 1956 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Dr. Thompson, forever a Lion at heart, returned to Columbia after his time with the Navy was up, to enroll in the School of Dental and Oral Surgery (now the College of Dental Medicine). Since his graduation in 1960, Dr. Thompson has remained an active alum. He has served as an assistant clinical professor at the dental school since 1978 and was a long time member of the Admissions Committee. He was chairman of the Committee on Minority Affairs, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, president of the Association of Dental Alumni, and Class of 1960 Reunion Representative.
In 1988 he was awarded the University Alumni Medal in recognition of his volunteer service to the dental school. Dr. Thompson maintained a private practice in midtown Manhattan and has mentored generations of students in all aspects of general dentistry.
Dr. Thompson, who is married to Angela Crossdale Thompson, has also been a strong supporter of Columbia’s athletics program. He was chairman of the Alumni Track Advisory Committee and member of the Executive Committee of the Varsity C Club from 1970-74.