that wasn't the kind of life he wanted for himself," his son said. "And he saw education as his way out."

When he enrolled in Hope College in Michigan, he became the first person in his family to go to college. He started teaching grade school while he was still a student.

He met his wife, Jeanette, when both were performing in a community theater production in Michigan. They began their lives together there and have two daughters and a son. During his first teaching job, Mr. Thompson developed what would become his specialty as an educator.

"Wherever he went, he started remedial reading and language programs," his son said.

When the family came to Tampa, Mr. Thompson took a position as principal of Spencer Memorial Baptist School in Seminole Heights (nowcalled Tampa Baptist Academy).

"It only went up to sixth grade, and there were about 200 students," his son said. "It was his vision to expand it to eighth grade, and he did that."

But he found he didn't like the administrative side of education.

"He ran a day care center," his son said. "But he didn't like doing that. It wasn't teaching."

He returned to the classroom once and for all, teaching at Oak Grove Middle School, then for more than 15 years at Hillsborough High School.

Mr. Thompson always had a fascination with the Titanicand shared that passion with his high school English students. Through the year, he would have them research and write about the ship, its passengers and its period in history. At year's end he would host Titanic