Melvin K. Thompson

Melvin K. Thompson 76, of Indianapolis, died February 5, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital following several years of declining health. Mel was born October 5, 1932 in Richmond, Indiana, the son of the late John and Alma (Gross) Thompson. At Richmond High School, Mel was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball during his career. Mel excelled in basketball and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. He went on to play major college basketball as a center for North Carolina State University, under the tutelage of legendary coach Everett Case. NC State, under Mel s leadership, won the inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament championship in 1953. Case, the venerable NC State coach referred to Mel as "...one of the finest competitors I have ever seen." Following his NC State playing days, Mel was the head basketball coach at the Citadel in Charleston, SC for seven seasons. His career in coaching was immortalized in the 2002 book, My Losing Season, written by former player, Pat Conroy. Mel also pitched in the Chicago Cubs organization and was drafted to play basketball in the NBA by the Fort Wayne Pistons. After his basketball coaching career, Mel returned to the Midwest focusing on business opportunities and raising his family. Always a competitor, Mel was at his most passionate in providing coaching advice to his three sons in basketball and baseball, both officially and on the sidelines. A 1960 s era newspaper quote describes Mel, "Mel may not be the great enough to have a day in his honor or a street named for him...But a youngster with athletic ambitions would do well to remember the Mel Thompson story and pattern themselves after the fellow who made it on heart and courage alone." In later life, golf replaced basketball as Mel s sports passion. He enjoyed traveling the warmer parts of the country in the winter months to play. Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Julia Thompson. Mr. Thompson is survived by his five children, Sharon (Bob) Thompson-Brubeck of Findlay, OH, Mike Thompson, M. Keith (Lori) Thompson, Jr., and Laura (Charlie) Thompson-Ponsler of Indianapolis, David (Diane) Thompson of Catania, Italy; his loving ex-wife and caregiver, Pat (Bittner) Thompson of Indianapolis; and nine grandchildren. Services will be held at Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center, 635 E. Market at College, Indianapolis. Calling will be Monday, February 9 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral service will be Tuesday, February 10 at 10 a.m