French was
born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the youngest and only boy with three
sisters from French F. Thompson, Sr. and the late Dorothy L. Thompson.
Attended the public schools in Indianapolis and was one of the first blacks
to attend Broad Ripple High in 1967 as a result of the integration act that
enforced busing blacks to all white schools. Favorite areas of interest in
high school were in architectural drawing and Jr. R.O.T.C.
He entered Lincoln University of Missouri in
1971 with the focus on Psychology. He continued his interest in
Military Science with R.O.T.C. department. He was an expert shot on the
rifle team and became the Drill Team Captain winning many competitions
around the country. He also was able to become one of the first cadets
to attend and complete Airborne and Ranger in a special program the army
was offering during that time period. He was active in the Music
department, singing in the famous Lincoln University Concert Choir under
the directorship of Dr. O. Anderson Fuller. He joined Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, Inc., worked with SGA and the Psychology Department special
research team. He left Lincoln in1976 with a 2nd Lieutenant
Commission in the Army. He left the army with honorable discharge as a 1st
Lieutenant.Currently, French is a Regional Account Executive with
Marriott International. He represents many of the Marriott brands
and services
in and outside the Washington DC area. Main area of
responsibilities is to provide comprehensive products and services to the
customer that will accommodate their company lodging and meeting needs. He
also is a member of the Marriott Mid Atlantic Region Diversity Council,
Marriott National Training and Development Cadre and a member of the Mid
Atlantic Sales and Marketing Recruitment and Retention Team.
French loves the Lord and is very active with his
church. He attends Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Brandywine, Maryland where he servers as the Vice
Chairperson of the Steward Board. (Steward Pro-Tem) That is the highest position a layperson can hold in the A.M.E Church
without being an ordained minister. He works closely with the Pastor in
spiritual and church financial and operational matters. He also serves as
the Sunday School Superintendent, Chairperson of Christian Education
Ministry. He works with the Pastor on special projects as the church has
plans to build a school grades kindergarten to high school, community
gymnasium and Senior Citizen Home.
He currently is Director of Sales and Events for the banquet facility the
church operates in Temple Hills, Maryland. Regionally, French is the
Assistant Superintendent for Program Development and Teacher Training for
the Capitol District in The Washington Conference for the A.M.E. Church.
French is married to his college sweetheart, Linda J.
Thompson. They live in Clinton Maryland. They have three young adults,
Anson who resides in Dallas, Texas. Emerald who is in her last year at
Benedict College Columbia, SC and French III who is a Junior at Morehouse
College in Atlanta, GA. French and Linda also have one grandchild, Cameron
Nichols, son of Anson and Lisa. |
