Hays Brown Thompson Jr., 77, a native of New Orleans, passed away peacefully at home on June 27, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. Born November 18, 1941 and raised in the French Quarter, Hays attended St. Aloysius, St. Stanislaus, and Loyola University before serving in the United States Coast Guard Reserve until his Honorable Discharge in 1969. Hays worked for WWLTV (CBS) for 17 years from 1962 to 1979. As Production Manager at WWLTV, he routinely traveled with the New Orleans Saints and was commended for his work during Super Bowl XII in 1978. Hays served as Production Coordinator and Lighting Director on several national remotes, including The Dick Cavett Show, The Phil Donahue Show, and The Merv Griffin Show. After his work at WWLTV, Hays owned an industrial supply and chemical company servicing the oilfield industry. Hays finished his career spending 20 years as Chief Civil Deputy for the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office.
His family and those who knew Hays will miss his colorful and oftentimes larger-than-life stories about growing up in the French Quarter. He was well known to hold court either over a cup of coffee at St. Roch Market or from his front stoop in the Marigny. He valued the simple things in life: a good loaf of French bread, his wife’s seafood gumbo, a sweet Plaquemines Parish orange, and crawfish from his father-in-law’s ponds. He loved hunting, fishing, traveling, casino trips, his family and his stubborn dog Max.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Hays Brown Thompson Sr. and Augusta Helen Lindner Thompson, and his brother, Michael Anthony Thompson. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol Becnel Thompson, and his sons, Hays Brown Thompson III of Austin, Texas, and Stephen Christopher Thompson of New Orleans, as well as his “adopted” kids Angela Alcalde Thompson and Ernest Osgood Ross III.
A private graveside service will be held for the family at St. Vincent De Paul Cemetery, New Orleans, LA on Friday, July 5, 2019. Interment will be provided by Father Gerard Stapleton of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Port Sulphur, LA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) or to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 28698 Highway 23, Port Sulphur, LA 70083.
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