William Thompson & Elizabeth Randolph
William Thompson and Elizabeth Randolph established the Thelma Davis Thompson Scholarship in 2010 in honor of their late mother.
Thelma Davis “Davey” Thompson graduated from Oshkosh State Teachers College and began her teaching career in a one room schoolhouse near her home in Oconto Falls, WI. She later took a job in Mercer, WI, where she met George Thompson, whom she married in 1941. He affectionately called her “Davey” and the name stuck.
After World War II, the couple settled in Milwaukee and had two children, William and Elizabeth. The family moved to California in 1951. During Thelma’s 25 years in the Cupertino Union School District, she received recognition as Teacher of the Year. While she excelled in the classroom, her passion for education was extended into the professional community of educators. She served on the contract bargaining teams for Cupertino teachers and was a key negotiator during two teacher strikes. Her leadership was instrumental in establishing teacher rights and improving classroom conditions which still have a positive impact on this award-winning, renowned school district today. She also served as representative to the California Teachers Association State Council.
After Thelma’s retirement, she remained active in the fight for legislation to improve classroom conditions and educational funding. She was an activist before and after retirement on behalf of the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the National Education Association (NEA) and attended several NEA national conventions as a delegate representing active and retired California teachers. She was a member of the Santa Clara County Political Action Committee, Evergreen Valley Retired Teachers, and CTA/NEA Retired Teachers. In her 80s, Thelma continued to work the phone bank and walk precincts on behalf of local and state candidates who were friends of education. She passed away on January 21, 2009 at the age of 89.
“Davey” was very proud to be an elementary school teacher and attributed her success to the excellent education and preparation she received from her beloved Oshkosh State Teachers College (now named UW Oshkosh). It was her hope that this scholarship would financially help UW Oshkosh students who share her passion for elementary education to complete the educational requirements necessary to work in the field that meant so much to her.