Biography
John George Thompson was born September 10, 1859, to William Henry and Anna Bell Thompson in the town of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His father was an architect and builder. Due to his father's failing physical condition and his family's difficult finances, Thompson left school at the age of 14 to assist him as a carpenter.
In his brief autobiography, which students of the 1893 class of the International Training School, now Springfield College, were required to write, Thompson describes his childhood as nothing remarkable. He does, however, detail a near-drowning incident as the "experience only made me a good swimmer. I never rested until I mastered the element that almost mastered me. "
This resolve and desire for self-improvement stuck with Thompson for his entire life.
As his father's condition worsened, he sold the family business and began working for a railroad company, where some coworkers/friends helped him to reconnect with his faith.
In 1885 he moved several times, first to Medford Massachusetts, then to Brooklyn New York, where he was engaged with church work. In 1890, his family called him home, which coincided with an opening for a Secretary at the local YMCA.
Several of Thompson's colleagues had passed through the International YMCA Training School. The influences of these men, coupled with Thompson's determination to serve to the best of his abilities led him to Springfield.
Thompson entered the Secretarial program in Springfield and was the oldest player (age 32) when James Naismith gathered his class for the first basketball game. The following spring, he was a member of the undefeated Secretarial Team, often referred to as the “First Basketball Champions of the World.”
Thompson also participated in a game between students and faculty of the International YMCA Training School considered to be the first public game.
Upon graduating from Springfield, Thompson returned home to New Glasgow where he served as General Secretary of the branch for six years. He played a pivotal role in the construction of a new gymnasium.