By Paige Nash
Family members, friends, colleagues and elected officials convened at the Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center at Bossier Parish Community College yesterday, May 3, to honor Colonel Carl Thompson for his decades of service.
Congressman for the 4th District Mike Johnson recognized this year’s Congressional Commendation recipients, including Thompson along with four others.
“Scripture tells us it is really important to give honor where honor is due, and it says in the Book of Romans that we are supposed to delight in doing that and we do,” said Johnson. “Today we want to recognize some deserving people and organizations who deserve that. We are going to present them with the biggest honor that I am capable of giving and that is a certificate of ‘Congressional Commendation’ in appreciation of their work.”
Johnson went down a long list of Col. Thompson’s achievements over the span of his adult life. He currently serves as Deputy Assessor at the Webster Parish Assessor’s Office. Before he took up that role, he spent nearly 4 decades serving the country. He began his military career in the Air Force Reserves at the Barksdale Airforce Base, then went on to serve in the Army National Guard. He was also an Environmental Specialist at Camp Beauregard in Pineville. One of Thompson’s greatest achievements was engaging in the effort to transition the federally owned Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant to the now state-owned Camp Minden, where he served as a Facility Manager. He retired in 2013, but still had a yearning to serve and joined the Louisiana State Guard where he rose to the rank of Full Colonel.
“He is known to all of us as an honorable, kind and faithful man,” said Johnson. “We just want to thank him for that and for his service to our country and our community and his dedication to all that he does.”
Col. Thompson thanked his wife, daughters and others for supporting him and serving alongside him and Congressman Mike Johnson for presenting him with this award.
“I am highly honored and humbly grateful for you recognizing my military service and community service and providing me with this prestigious and coveted award,” said Thompson.
Congressman Mike Johnson also recognized Vince Maggio with Maggio Grocery who just celebrated a century of serving Bossier Parish, Jeff Warren with Dream Hunt Foundation in Desoto Parish, Mary Cross with New Step Outreach in Beauregard Parish and Law Enforcement Officer Siggie Silvie of Natchitoches Parish.
