Don Thompson

Robert Donald Thompson (December 21, 1902 – November 9, 1968) was a football player and radio announcer. He played college football at Redlands and in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Buccaneers during their only season in 1926.

Early life and football career Thompson was born in 1902 in Rangoon, British Burma, where his mother was a medical missionary. His father was a captain in the United States Navy. Thompson grew up in Redlands, California and Eugene, Oregon and graduated from Eugene High School (now South Eugene High School) in 1920. Regarded as "the outstanding football announcer in the west,"

During World War II, Thompson was a lieutenant commander for intelligence in the United States Navy. Thompson also helped create the Navy's radio networks in Guam and Pearl Harbor. After the war, Thompson returned to NBC Radio as supervisor of night programming.

Personal life Thompson married Celia Martinez in 1932. They had a son born in 1943. On November 9, 1968, Thompson died in Flagstaff, Arizona.