Those We Honor

Lynn Thompson ‘66

A Member of Cal Lutheran’s First Team

Lynn is in the second row - #85 – fourth from the left

Lynn Thompson today
Older, Wiser, still committed
…and still likes violet.

Nov. 18, 1965 – BIG RUN – Cal Lutheran Slotback Lynn Thompson follows the blocking of halfbackback Bob
Trevathan as the Kingsmen whipped Pomona 22-6.

Although there are many excellent Cal Lutheran football players that have gone on to very distinguished careers in professional football both as players and coaches, many great players from Cal Lutheran did not continue on with football after graduation, but chose to pursue careers in other disciplines. One of these players was Lynn Thompson, one of the early players who graduated in 1966. He is a prime example of how Cal Lutheran prepares its players for “life after football”.

Before I interviewed Lynn Thompson, I decided to ask his coach, Bob Shoup, what he could tell me about Lynn Thompson as a player. Here are his thoughts:

“I remember Lynn as ‘Mr. Steady’. An excellent athlete and starter four years in baseball and football, like many players in the early years, he could play receiver, run the ball, play defensive back and safety, and all at a high level. There were no ups or downs with Lynn; he was very smart and always ready. He was on a four year run that went from being held scoreless by an OXY frosh team to scoring 40 points against the University of California at Riverside. He was also on ‘the Blue Slipper team’ in Colorado”.

I then talked with a few players from the early years to get their ‘take’ on Lynn, and was very taken by the memories that Davey Spurlock has of playing at Cal Lutheran with Lynn:

“As a new freshman at Cal Lutheran and on the freshman football team, I hoped to find a player with clear athletic ability and a great work ethic who would be willing to let a freshman learn from him and teach them; a player respected by the team and the coaches. That player for me turned out to be Lynn Thompson. From the moment he stepped on the field of play, he was dedicated to his team, the game and the university”.

“As a player who played football from the time of pee wee football, we all do remember many things from even these earliest of football experiences, but there are only a few people that stand out and above the rest because he made me better. Lynn was one of my heroes”.

I then had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Lynn Thompson. The following are the questions I asked Lynn and how he responded:

QUESTION: What was your experience with football before coming to Cal Lutheran?

I played my high school football in a program at El Rancho High School--Pico Rivera where we won a CIF Championship my junior year and lost in the finals my senior year. Whereas winning had become an expectation in high school, to come to Cal Lutheran and be a part of a brand new football program was a real change in expectations. Nevertheless, being part of a program that wanted to build a winning tradition became our goal at Cal Lutheran. The teammates I played with during that 4 year period worked hard to make that goal a reality. I am proud to say that we not only met, but exceeded that goal during my 4 years at Cal Lutheran.

QUESTION: What did you like best about playing at Cal Lutheran?

The fact that the games and practices were FUN. We wanted to win, but we also wanted to do it as a team. Because of the make-up of the team, there were no big egos to contend with. We knew we would have to play hard to win games and it became a challenge for all of us.

Watching the program grow during my 4 years. We started with no game field, no practice field for the first part of the first year and minimal locker facilities. Yet, by my senior year we had a team that could play with anyone on our schedule. We ended up 8 wins / 1 loss my senior year. Not bad for a bunch of kids thrown together by an excellent coach (Coach Shoup) in a 3 month period in 1962.

Playing with players that cared as much about each other as they did about playing football. I made life long friends during my 4 years at Cal Lu.

Playing for coaches that cared more about you as a person than you as a player to win a ball game.

QUESTION: Do you remember any funny experiences?

There were always funny things going on. For example, riding in the “White Tornado” (the old school bus that provided us transportation to and from CLC to Camarillo HS for some of our practices) was always a great time. There were times when we were not sure if we would make it back up the Conejo grade on our return trip to CLC.

Another time on our way to playing Pomona College one Saturday night and the players and coaches realizing that some of our most important gear (socks and jocks) had been left at CLC. We had to stop at more than one drug store on the way and buy whatever products they had in stock . Needless to say, it was an “interesting experience”.

QUESTION: What do you feel you got from your Cal Lutheran experience?

The Cal Lu experience solidified the goals and structure of the life my parents had instilled in me during the first 10 years of my life growing up on a farm in North Dakota and later watching my Dad and Mom work so hard to support our family during my junior hi and high school years in Pico Rivera. We had a strong Christian life during those years. Cal Lu gave me the opportunity to get an education that would allow me to be successful in life. It also provided the atmosphere to further strengthen my religious beliefs.

When you are going to college you are a young person looking for a growing experience and fun. It is not until after you have completed those college years that you can fairly assess the true value of those years. I can say, without question, that I would not be the person I am today without the 4 year Cal Lutheran experience that I had from 1962 - 1966.

QUESTION: What have you done since graduation?

I first completed my MBA from USC in 1968—with a major in Adminstrative Management.

I then worked in the telecommunications industry for 43 years. The first 34 years were with Pacific Bell / SBC from which I took an early retirement in 2000 as a Regional Manager with responsibilites in Sales / Marketing / Operations / Staff, mostly in Southern California. I then worked for a telecommunications start up company for 9 years starting in 2001, Retiring for good in 2010.

I have been married for 30 years to my wife, Linda, and have one son, Ryan. Linda and I live in Cerritos.

QUESTION: What are you doing with your time now?

I have had the opportunity to serve on the 5th Quarter Football Club Board of Directors during the last year. A very rewarding experience.

I also have been playing golf once / twice a week; traveling to visit family in Florida, Virginia, Iowa and Minnesota; numerous excursions to Santa Barbara /Paso Robles / Temecula with family for wine tasting trips. I also have family in San Diego, so we take 2 day trips to SD every 3 months or so.

I have also had the enjoyment of recruiting a couple of students to Cal Lutheran over the last few years. It is always a pleasure to discuss the opportunities that Cal Lutheran offers to these students and parents. Because of my experiences during my 4 years at Cal Lu and the tremendous growth that the school has enjoyed and reputation it has earned over the last 50 years, it makes me proud to be an alumni. I can point to the school--with pride--as I talk to them.

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