Carl W. Thompson, Sr.

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Carl William Thompson Sr. (12 May 1921–15 June 2006)

Born in Port Blakely, Washington, Carl Thompson moved with his family to Stockton, California at the age of six; residing there the remainder of his life. Always an avid baseball player and fan, he was the winning pitcher for the championship Karl Ross Post American Legion baseball team in 1935. The Stockton Record newspaper on July 25 and 26, 1935 said of the game, "they sent a fourteen year old boy to do a man's job…and he was there a million percent". He married Noreen Stewart of Stockton in 1943 and had two sons, one in 1944 and the other in 1954. During World War II, Thompson served in the US Army. He earned the rank of sergeant and served under General MacArthur in the Pacific Theatre of Operations (Luzon, Philippines) where he was awarded a bronze star for meritorious achievement. Returning home in 1946, he played for the Modesto Reds, and for many years he coached and sponsored local American Legion teams, including the 1958 championship team. He later turned his attention to coaching his second son for many years in Little League, Babe Ruth, and in Class A professional teams through the 1970's.

Carl and his wife owned the Stockton Ports from 1971 through 1973, as well as owning and managing the Tri-City Ports, Grays Harbor Ports, and Salem Senators of the Northwest League. For more than thirty-five years he was also co-owner and operator of a linoleum and carpet business in Stockton.