Walter Thompson

THOMPSON, Walter Robert, February 26, 1932 to January 7, 2009. Walter Robert "Bob" Thompson passed away at his home on Wednesday, achieving one of his final goals. A complex and unique man, Bob's life was typified by the themes of intellect, ethics, persistence and achievement. His intellect, which was evident throughout his life, was fed by a voracious appetite for learning and reading coupled with a rigid adherence to intellectual honesty and the search for the truth. This intellectual gift and approach rewarded Bob in later life with the chance to teach Ethics at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Business, a role he cherished. In some respects this was a coming of full circle as Vanderbilt had played an earlier important part in Bob's life, having graduated from Vanderbilt Law School at age 42 with no undergraduate degree, one of only two persons to have done so. This law degree in addition to satisfying another goal, namely following in the footsteps of his Grandfather Judge Walter Benjamin Thompson, provided the means for Bob to continue to serve one of his great loves, music and the composers who create it. Prior to Law School, Bob had a significant background and resume of achievement in the production and marketing of music working with greats such as Dave Brubeck, Barbra Streisand, Andy Williams, Robert Goulet, and Bill Watrous, and two albums he produced are included in the permanent collection of Contemporary Jazz at the Smithsonian. Once having attained to the practice of law, his love for the creators of music led him to a legal career exemplified by the defense and protection of the intellectual property rights of those creators including Otis Redding, Roger Miller, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and others. Additional achievements include the Associated Press Citation of Merit for his role leading the broadcast of the 1956 Soviet Invasion of Hungary for Armed Forces Radio, serving as President of SESAC Music, Inc., lecturing on Leadership Ethics at the Pentagon, Chairing the TN State Film, Music and Entertainment Commission, imprinting so many people who now share his passion for ethics and integrity, and certainly not least, providing his children with an opportunity set very different from that with which he started. Bob is survived by his mother Ruth Thompson, three sisters, his three children Philip, Carolyn and Bo, their spouses and eight grandchildren, and he now joins his wife Adrianne who passed away almost fourteen years ago. A patriotic man who served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict and supported our service men and women to the end, he will be memorialized at 2pm January 16 at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has selected three charitable organizations information regarding which will be available at the services. Arrangements at WEST HARPETH FUNERAL HOME 6962 Charlotte Pike, 352-9400 www.harpethhills.com