Hannis Thompson

2013 Co-op Hall of Fame Inductee

Education

Hannis Thompson was raised in Salisbury, North Carolina. He served in the United States Navy from 1947 to 1951 and was able to fly with NASA astronaut Alan Shepard. He attended North Carolina State University in order to study electrical engineering, and he received his bachelor’s degree in 1953. He continued his studies there until he finished his master’s degree in 1959. Thompson then traveled to Purdue University for his Ph.D., which he completed in 1963.

Professional Career

Thompson joined the School of Electrical Engineering faculty at Purdue University in 1963. He worked with Dr. Steve Sample in developing the Honors Program within Electrical Engineering. During his teaching career, he taught a wide range of students from the sophomore level up to graduate school. His courses mainly focused on circuits and solid state devices. Thompson was professor and the assistant head of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering during the last 14 years of his academic career. Once he retired in 1996, he received the new title as Professor Emeritus. Thompson’s students liked to call him a “triple threat” because of his passion for being a pilot, sailing in the Caribbean, and skiing in the Colorado Rockies.

Co-op Coordinator

Thompson served as co-op coordinator for the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering for nine years (1979-1988). He enjoyed seeing the maturing process of students as they took on significant responsibilities in their assigned co-op work.