Sam Thompson (1967)
Teacher | Coach | Administrator
Class of 1967 | Inducted 2025
Sam Thompson was born in Ft. Worth on March 13, 1947. Two years later, his family moved to the family farm in Brushie Prairie, where he spent his formative years. He graduated from Frost High School in 1965, and from Navarro College in 1967. He finished his collegiate work at Stephen F. Austin State University where he received his Bachelor of Science and master’s degree with highest honors. Sam also received his Principal and Superintendent degrees and completed some doctoral work.
Sam’s teaching and coaching career took him to Frost, Chilton, Kerens, and Corsicana for thirty-nine years. The last twenty-eight years of his career were with Corsicana ISD, where he served as an English teacher, assistant football coach, and head track coach for twelve years, and was awarded Corsicana High School Teacher of the Year. He was an Assistant Athletic Director, Associate Principal at Corsicana High School, and finished his career as District Athletic Director. He oversaw all UIL competitions and head up the School Nursing program. Sam played an important role in the design of the new Community National Bank and Trust Stadium at Tiger Field. During his coaching and athletic careers, he coached a Texas State Track Champion, four runner-up Texas State Track Championships, and numerous district and regional track champions. The Texas High School Coaching Association presented Sam with a plaque as a track coach for having the most wins in the state.
Sam is a fifty-year member of the Texas High School Coaches Association. He has served on the Texas High School Athletic Directors Board and currently serves on the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Board. He has served as the district chairman, along with the Athletic Secretary, Wanda Johnston, numerous times. Sam always says that Wanda was the real district chairman. He is also a more than fifty-year endowed member of the Masonic Lodge, a York Rite Mason and Shriner.
Sam has been married to Paulette Raley Thompson for 56 years. Together, they raised three sons: Lowell, Brent, and Darrell. In 2022, Darrell accepted the Distinguished Alumni Awards on behalf of his late brothers, R. Lowell Thompson and Brent Thompson. The Thompson family’s deep connection to Navarro College spans generations, with more than 20 of Sam and Paulette’s siblings, children, and grandchildren having attended the institution.