James & Betty Thompson

James and his wife, Betty, reside in Mineola, where they are involved in many civic activities.
DG Thompson has been a Rotarian for 27 years having joined the Mineola Rotary Club in 1958.  He was also a member of the South park Beaumont Rotary Club and has served as President of both clubs.  His classification is Past Service - Clergy - Protestant.  He is retired from active service as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Mineola.

James is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Theological Seminary which prepared him for 28 years of pastoral ministry and 14 years of denominational leadership in Texas.  In 1988, Mary Hardin Baylor University, which was established in 1845 under the Republic of Texas, awarded James a honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at the occasion of his commencement address.  He has also studied at Lamar University's School of Continuing Education.

Fly-fishing has been the favorite past time for James.   The waters of Alaska, Montana, Pennsylvania and Canada have yielded rainbow and brown trout, northern pike, muskie and salmon.  His other main hobby is the collecting of antique cut glass of the American Brilliant Period (1860-1910).  He also is a quail hunter.

As a tour director, James has led tour groups to several regions of Europe, Asia and Africa.  Preaching assignments have included these places as well.

Civic interests have rewarded James with leadership responsibilities in Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Committee on Aging, Beaumont's Charter Change Commission, school trustee terms and hospital trustee terms.

James has been published in national journals, denominational magazines and Texas newspapers as a staff or free lance writer.  He has authored one book, "Creative Stewardship for Texas Churches".

James married to Betty Clark of Hawkins, Texas, in 1950.   They have one daughter, Karla Kay Davis of San Antonio, and three granddaughters.