Joe Thompson

Category
2007
About This Inductee
Joe graduated from Shamokin Area High School in 1957. He graduated from Bloomsburg State College in 1961, and did graduate work at Temple, Bucknell, and Penn State Universities.
Thompson played four sports at Shamokin High School. He earned 3 letters in football, and was all Keystone League as an end and line backer in 1955-56. Thompson wrestled and was a District Four Champion in 1955-56 and was a member of a team that won twelve consecutive District Four Championships. Coach Thompson was also an All-Keystone League Baseball player in 1956. Thompson also ran track and ran the 880 yard run and 200 yard dash. In college, Thompson also played football during the 1957 to 1958 seasons and was a member of the Bloomsburg State College’s NAIA Championship Team under Coach Russ Houk, Thompson was a student-coach of wrestling in 1960 61.
Coach Thompson was head football coach at Athens High School, 1982-87, as well in 1968-69. He produced an NTL Football Championship in 1984 and coached Athens to their first District Championship in 1986 with a 7-0 win over Line Mt. High School. Coach Thompson was head wrestling coach at Athens High School from 1961-68, starting the wrestling program in 1961-62. Coach Thompson produced a Roosevelt Trail League Championship as well as numerous North Sectional winners, as well as a number of District Four place winners.
Thompson was also a PIAA football official for twelve years, 1970-81. Thompson was also a PIAA wrestling official, 1969-83. He officiated regional tournaments. Thompson was also selected to officiate a state tournament at State College, PA. Coach Thompson is a member of both the Northern Tier Wrestling and Athens High School Sports Hall of Fame. Thompson taught Science at Athens for 36 years and retired in 1998. Coach Thompson ended his
athletic career as the Athletic Director, 2000-2003.
Thompson and his wife Ann Marie have two children, Joe and Mary Clare, and have three grandchildren.