Brad Thompson: A Life of Work, Service, and Community Leadership
Brad Thompson’s story, as captured by Stuart Chilton in 2010, paints a portrait of a man whose life intertwined with Erath County for nearly a century. Born in 1923 and still active in business at age 91, Thompson embodied the blend of grit, civic duty, and entrepreneurial spirit that shaped Stephenville across generations.
Early Life and Education
Thompson grew up in Bunyan, walking six miles a day to and from school. After seventh grade, his family moved to Stephenville, where he attended SHS before transferring to Dublin High School—an unexpected turn prompted by a teenage breakup. That transfer introduced him to Betty Watson, the woman he would later marry and spend 64 years with.
Wartime Experience and the Path to the Air Corps
At 17, Thompson left school to work at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, helping build B‑24 Liberators. He and two friends drove an oil‑hungry Pontiac 1,400 miles west, arriving just before Pearl Harbor. His aircraft experience could have earned him draft deferments, but he chose to enlist. Promised sergeant’s stripes that never materialized, he served instead as a private in the Army Air Corps, maintaining aircraft for the Eighth Air Force in England and witnessing the first German V‑1 “buzz bombs” strike London.
Marriage and Postwar Career
Brad married Betty Watson in 1943. After the war, he returned to Fort Worth, briefly resumed aircraft work, then entered the insurance business. By 1948 he had founded his own agency in Stephenville, which he operated for 42 years. His business career later expanded into mini‑storage facilities, which he continued to oversee well into his nineties.
Family and Personal Interests
Thompson’s pride in his family was evident in the “traveling office” he kept in his billfold—a small card listing the names and birthdates of his children, grandchildren, and great‑grandchildren. His grandchildren included a set of quads, all Texas A&M graduates, and several others who went on to professional careers in law, banking, and public service.
His hobbies were equally expansive:
- 75 scrapbooks documenting family and local history
- Over 2,000 postcards
- Stamp, belt buckle, and coin collections
Civic Leadership and Public Service
Few individuals shaped Stephenville’s civic landscape as deeply as Thompson. His service included:
- Lions Club (60 years)
- Chamber of Commerce
- American Legion
- Stephenville ISD Board
- Countless committees and civic initiatives
He was especially proud of helping organize the Stephenville Industrial Foundation, a key driver of local economic development. Thompson also served as a Texas delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, supporting Lyndon Johnson. His friendship with Johnson later cooled, prompting Thompson to shift his political allegiance.
Reputation and Personal Philosophy
Across Erath County, Thompson was known as the man who could “get the job done.” Whether restoring Post 240’s charter, leading civic projects, or building businesses, he earned a reputation for reliability and determination.
His philosophy was simple and enduring: “Work hard, have fun, live a clean life, and make good friends.”
