Lancelot Thompson, a long-time professor of chemistry at the University of Toledo in Ohio, died at his home in West Toledo, earlier this month. He was 91 years old.
A native of Jamaica, Dr. Thompson came to the United States with an athletic scholarship to Morgan State University in Baltimore. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1952 and went on to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at Wayne State University in Detroit.
After conducting postdoctoral research at Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Thompson joined the faculty at the University of Toledo in 1958. For four years, he was the only Black faculty member at the university. In 1964, Dr. Thompson was appointed assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Two years later, he was named dean of students. In 1968, Dr. Thompson was appointed vice president of student affairs, a post he held for 20 years until his retirement in 1988. In retirement, Dr. Thompson continued to tutor athletes and chemistry majors at the university.
