Lyell Thompson, Professor Emeritus of Agronomy, Dies

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Lyell Thompson

Lyell Thompson, who taught agronomy at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1991 and helped lead integration of the campus facilities and community institutions, died March 10 at his home in Fayetteville.

Thompson, 89, was born May 10, 1924, in Rock Island, Ill., to Kenneth and Gladys Bowman Thompson. The family moved to Perry, Okla., when he was 8 years old. He served in World War II, receiving three battle stars and a Purple Heart after fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.

He eared a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma A&M and a doctoral degree from Ohio State University. After graduation he worked as an agronomist with a focus on soil fertility at the Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation in Ardmore, Okla., for six years.

He joined the faculty of the U of A College of Agriculture in 1958 and was awarded the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Teacher Award in 1983. He was the major adviser for about 30 master's and doctoral candidates. His research in soil fertility focused on trace element nutrition. His research led to boron, molybdenum and zinc recommendations for Arkansas crops.

Thompson was active in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and he served on the Arkansas Council on Human Relations during that time period. Along with persuading the Fayetteville community and businesses to open the swimming pool, the theaters and restaurants to African American residents, Thompson provided his home to black students who were not allowed to live in residence halls prior to integration of the dormitories.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marcella Thompson; five children, Andrea Thompson Bevernitz, Andrew Mark Thompson, Susan Thompson Sklar, Kent Thompson and Kevin Thompson; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-granchildren.

Funeral arrangements were being handled by Epting Funeral Home of Fayetteville.