Tommy Thompson, a congenial and beloved sergeant-at- arms for the state House of Representatives, died as he photocopied work papers Wednesday, the first day of the new legislative season. He was 82.
Legislators and other statehouse staffers placed flowers under a photograph of Thompson posted prominently in the House chamber Thursday and traded teary stories about the man who knew nearly all of them by name.
The atmosphere provided a stark contrast to the merriment that predominated in the House chamber in April 2003, when Thompson’s five children arranged a surprise party for his 80th birthday, distributing scores of Tommy Thompson masks.
“(It involved) all 65 members and all the staff, and we all held them up in front of our faces, like a sea of Tommys,” recalled chief House clerk Marilyn Eddins.
A lifelong Republican who reveled in his legislative position, Elden Leamer “Tommy” Thompson served for about a year as vice chairman of the Arapahoe County GOP when former chief House clerk Judith “J.R.” Rodrigue appointed him a sergeant-at-arms in 1997.
Thompson, who took pride in being the Capitol’s oldest employee, became a familiar fixture in the House chamber. He proudly wore the green blazer that signaled his status as one of the House’s six sergeants-at- arms. The position is one of nearly four dozen patronage jobs, typically given in gratitude for party loyalty and service.
With his upbeat personality and faculty for remembering names – Thompson knew all 65 members of the House by name, along with dozens of senators, staffers, lobbyists and State Patrol officers – he could have been a politician himself.
Instead, he worked for Ford Motor Co. after serving “three years, one month and 17 days” on a troop transport ship during World War II. He retired from Ford after undergoing bypass surgery.
He then started the Bike Path, a bike repair and sales shop near the High Line Canal recreation trail. He ran it for 15 years before selling it to one of his employees shortly before receiving his sergeant-at-arms appointment.
Thompson took his job seriously, supplying legislators with water, monitoring potentially obstreperous onlookers and running errands, including tasks like the photocopying he was doing when his heart failed Wednesday.
Thompson once told Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon that he hoped to die “in the center aisle of the House.”
Gov. Bill Owens included Thomp son, “a dear friend,” in his State of the State address Thursday. “I know that I speak for everyone when I say that he will be greatly missed,” he said.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Laurette Thompson of Denver; daughters Sheryl Harper of Shawnee, Cindy Bailey of Aurora and Laurie Wright of Durango; sons Steve Thompson of Aurora and John Thompson of Seattle; seven grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren.
Services are pending at Fairmount Mortuary.
Staff writer Claire Martin can be reached at 303-820-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com.
