Carl J Thomsen

Carl J. "Tommy" Thomsen died September 22, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Lois "Bunny" Bacon Thomsen,her two children and their families. His first wife, Hortense "Cissy" McClure Thomsen, predeceased him in 1996 after 47 years of marriage. He is also survived by Martha Blair, secretary / assistant for over 30 years. Tommy was born November 14, 1916 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. He attended primary and secondary schools in that state and graduated from Junior College at Northwestern Military and Naval Academy, which has since merged to become St. John's Northwestern Military Academy. In the year 2000, he was named Honored Old Boy by the Academy. Thomsen received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Degree from Rensselaer, later an Honorary Doctor of Law from Rensselaer, and was named an Honorary Fellow by the University of Manchester, Manchester England. After employment at Methods Engineering Council and Westinghouse, Thomsen served as a Lieutenant (j.g.) in the navy's Bureau of Aeronautics Electronics Components Group during WWII. His commanding officer was Patrick E. Haggerty, who after the war invited Tommy to Dallas to join Geophysical Services. That company later became Texas Instruments, which enjoyed its early rapid growth years under Haggerty's direction. He became its chief Executive Officer. Tommy and others considered Pat their mentor in business. During Tommy's years at TI he served in various financial positions including Chief Financial Officer and was a member of the Board of Director for over 30 years. Thomsen felt fortunate to be involved in a company founded by men he respected who were contributing much to the development of Dallas, Eugene McDermott, Eric Jonsson and Cecil Green; and to be involved in some of their community interests. Eric Jonsson urged Tommy's involvement in Rensselaer, their alma mater, where Tommy later served as Board Chairman. Tommy served as a member of the Dallas Fort Worth Airport Board during its construction and was Chairman of the Board's Finance Committee. He was the last Chairman of the Goals for Dallas program which Eric Jonsson Initiated. Cecil Green founded the Association of higher Education which brought television classroom instruction to area businesses. Tommy was one of its Board Chairmen. Eugene McDermott founded the McDermott Foundation which benefited education, Dallas Medical progress and civic life. Tommy was honored to serve on the Foundation Board for over 20 years. Thomsen also served terms as Chairman of the Board of the Dallas Foundation, the Grater Dallas Planning Council, the Dallas County Heritage Society, and the Pacific American Income Shares in Pasadena CA. he was member of the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation Board. He also served a term as Chairman of the Dallas Federal Reserve Board. In 1982 Thomsen founded the private operating Thomsen Foundation, established for the purpose of encouraging the cultivation and appreciation of wildflowers with a special emphasis on children; 600 acres of Montague County land is now devoted to fulfilling this purpose. Over time the Foundation has expanded with the involvement of a community college as a nature study lab for state funded projects to improve the quality of nature/science teaching in Texas. Annually hundreds of teachers and students visit the site. A visitation with friends and family will be held on Sunday, September 26th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at Park Cities Presbyterian, Monday, 1:00 pm following a private burial service at Restland Cemetery. It was Tommy's specific request that instead of flowers or contributions to organizations in his memory that the words of Albert Schweitzer would be remembered. He said "even if it is a little thing, do something for those who have need of a man's help". Be a mentor.