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Linda Dawson is IASB director, editorial services, and Journal editor.
You can retire from your career, but you should never retire from life. That sentence captures the essence of an award-winning essay about Howard "Bud" Thompson of Prophetstown.
Thompson, who served as IASB president in 1976-77, was honored last spring at the third annual Lincolnland Legends banquet. Emily Skelton, then a senior at Prophetstown High School, submitted an essay about him for a scholarship contest. Skelton earned $3,000 for her efforts, and Thompson earned statewide recognition as a community business leader.
Lincolnland Legends evolved from the Illinois Dollars for Scholars program as a way "to recognize outstanding Illinoisans who are role models and inspirational figures for youth." A winner is selected from each of the state's 19 Congressional districts, and then two overall winners are chosen for the state.
"The Linolnland Legends Essay Contest revives the practice of identifying and honoring community heroes who have contributed in various ways to the lives of others," according to Dick Dystrup, executive director of Illinois Dollars for Scholars on their Web page. "Along with the goals of increasing scholarship awards to Illinois students and recognizing outstanding Illinois citizens, we hope this contest raises awareness of the need for scholarship support to help more students attend college, provides an interesting education activity for students and teachers, and instills a sense of pride in being from Illinois."
Pride and admiration were evident in the essay that Skelton wrote about Thompson. She described the 77-year-old as someone who "may seem like any other man his age" as he strolls down Main Street in Prophetstown, stopping for coffee and greeting people on the street. But she knows "Mr. Thompson is not just walking around the town he was born and raised in to pass the time; instead he is overseeing the many projects that he has founded there in his lifetime."
Skelton detailed Thompson's achievements, crediting him with undertaking a business venture that helped bring new jobs to town in the mid-1980s, working on political campaigns at all levels of government and serving "many terms" on his local board of education (18 years), as well as serving as IASB president and then 15 years on the state board of education. During his time on the Prophetstown board, he was president of the board when the district consolidated with Lyndon to become Prophetstown-Lyndon CUSD 3. The district later added Tampico to its name through a merger.
With all his years of local and state school board service and even after his retirement, Thompson continued to work for the good of his community, Skelton wrote. He led "the effort to bring the state of Illinois Main Street Program into the community," which in turn led to "a dramatic change to the face of downtown" and an increased interest in business creation. And he wasn't done yet.
Thompson ran for mayor at age 71 and then focused his sights on a vacant factory lot, which ultimately was transformed into a park with a memorial to honor the five branches of the military as well as police and firefighters. Thompson said the Victorian-style park was built with $300,000 raised locally, all through donations, with no tax money from any level.
"We've got a great community," Thompson said in a phone interview this summer as he reflected on his involvement, the award and the tribute from Skelton.
"I have a real basic philosophy that came from Shakespeare, I believe," he said. "What we do for ourselves dies with us; what we do for others lives forever."
Thompson said he was aware that Skelton was submitting his name for the award because he has known the family for a number of years. But he has become very proud of the organization itself for what it does and what it represents, even though he had not heard of it before he was approached by Skelton and her mother to ask his permission to submit him for the Lincolnland Legends program.
That Thompson is proud of his community is evident in the tone of his voice as he talks about a new mural that will be painted in downtown Prophetstown. With 2,033 residents, he said, it was also an honor to be named one of the most arts friendly towns under 50,000 people.
While the list of community projects Thompson has nurtured is impressive, the most touching portion of Skelton's essay is her personal tribute to Thompson as a promoter of the arts in her high school. "His involvement with these organizations goes beyond his passion of the arts," she wrote. "He has taught me many valuable lessons not only about community involvement and commitment, but also about having a strong moral character."