David Thompson was a great guy. He was a terrific basketball player, AJC Top 15 in the State. He also had a great sense of humor. David could be intimidating to those he was competing against or to someone who had crossed him. However, if you were David's friend, you knew he had a soft heart. On so many occasions I remember David smiling, laughing and full of life. He worked one summer with Chris Stone at an amusement park in Panama City, FL. He entertained me at length of their exploits that summer -- probably when we should have been listening to our teacher. I'll never forget David, nor will any of his classmates.
David died of stomach cancer. Johnny Haddad went to visit him in the hospital shortly before he died. David asked (told) Johnny to go to the Varsity and bring him back a Hot Dog (remember he was dying of stomach cancer). Johnny wavered a bit, not wanting to do something that would harm David in his condition. When David saw that Johnny was wavering he said "Johnny, you haven't done anything for me in more than 20 years now go get me a Hot Dog!" To Johnny's credit, Johnny went to the Varsity got David his last Varsity Hot Dog took it back and sat with David as he enjoyed that last pleasure. We miss you David, and thank you Johnny for granting David's last wish.
Mel's comments are so insightful. I haven't seen David in more than 35 years but as soon as I saw his name, he stood before me as a teenager, his quiet largeness and kind essessance forever etched in my memory. He was a kind person and I'm so sorry he passed on so young.
Mel Mendenhall (1975)
David Thompson was a great guy. He was a terrific basketball player, AJC Top 15 in the State. He also had a great sense of humor. David could be intimidating to those he was competing against or to someone who had crossed him. However, if you were David's friend, you knew he had a soft heart. On so many occasions I remember David smiling, laughing and full of life. He worked one summer with Chris Stone at an amusement park in Panama City, FL. He entertained me at length of their exploits that summer -- probably when we should have been listening to our teacher. I'll never forget David, nor will any of his classmates.
David died of stomach cancer. Johnny Haddad went to visit him in the hospital shortly before he died. David asked (told) Johnny to go to the Varsity and bring him back a Hot Dog (remember he was dying of stomach cancer). Johnny wavered a bit, not wanting to do something that would harm David in his condition. When David saw that Johnny was wavering he said "Johnny, you haven't done anything for me in more than 20 years now go get me a Hot Dog!" To Johnny's credit, Johnny went to the Varsity got David his last Varsity Hot Dog took it back and sat with David as he enjoyed that last pleasure. We miss you David, and thank you Johnny for granting David's last wish.
Cheri Maugans (Scott) (1975)
Mel's comments are so insightful. I haven't seen David in more than 35 years but as soon as I saw his name, he stood before me as a teenager, his quiet largeness and kind essessance forever etched in my memory. He was a kind person and I'm so sorry he passed on so young.