WASHINGTON (May 30, 2024) - Herb "Bud" Thompson is a graduate of Bell Street High School in Clinton, S.C. He was a member of the historic 1968 Howard University Track and Field Team where they earned HU its first National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship in any sport.
 
Thompson, known as "Bud" to his teammates, came to Howard as a football player. In his sophomore season, he was approached by the track coach and became a two-sport student-athlete for the rest of his collegiate career.
 
Thompson saw great success on the track, earning a National Championship and All-American status. In 2018, Bud and his track teammates were inducted into the Howard University Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
In the community, Thompson was active on campus where he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and served as an assistant coach for Archbishop Carroll High School (Washington, D.C.).
 
After graduating in 1971, Thompson took the head coaching position, and along with his Howard teammates as assistant coaches, went on to win school its first conference championship in years.
 
Thompson continued a career of service to youth in Atlanta, Louisiana and Washington D.C., working as a counselor, coach and dorm counselor.
 
Upon completing a master's degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana ('76), he returned to Howard University and joined the faculty in The Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. After several years of teaching at Howard, Thompson became the Director of Intramural Sports at Gallaudet University Prep School and later accepted the same position at Howard.
 
After several great years in that position, he decided to retire from Howard and moved his family to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he accepted the position as Academic Advisor for The Athletic Department at Coastal Carolina University (CCU). Thompson retired from CCU in 2014.
 
After a short retirement, he later worked as an Outreach Coordinator at "A Father's Place," which is one of the leading agencies in the Fatherhood Initiative of South Carolina.
 
Fully retired, for now, Bud spends his time with his family, working with his church, playing golf, biking and a few days a week in the gym. Thompson lives by the philosophy, "Always be a bridge builder for others coming behind you," which is clear from his life's work. He and his wife, Pat (an HU alumni), celebrated 36 years of marriage in May 2024. They have one son and a beautiful granddaughter. They are so thankful to God for the many friends and blessings over the years.
 
About Where Are They Now?
 
The weekly series of "Where Are They Now?" appears on Thursdays throughout the year.
 
The series will feature former student-athletes from all sports and eras, highlighting their careers as athletes at the University and what they are presently doing.
 
All interested former athletes and their coaches should submit a short bio, a recent head shot and contact information on how they can be reached via email to Derek W. Bryant (derek.bryant@howard.edu).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.