Frank Thompson (1986) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Frank Thompson

Induction:
1986
Class:
1968

1963-67
Basketball

There has been several “glory eras” of UA basketball and this Hall of Famer had a large part of formulating one of them. Frank Thompson burst on the UA scene in 1962, fresh out of Akron East High. Before he was through with his career, he would have participated in 101 games and was on Zip cage team that compiled a 90-19 record in his four years. Teaming with such cagers as fellow freshman and Hall of Famer, Bill Turner, Thompson helped UA compile 22-3 record that first season. A year later, Thompson, who was known for his defensive work and shot blocking, helped the Zips capture their first Ohio Conference (OC) crown since 1948-49 win their first Mideast Regional Championship and go on to finish national runner-up in the NCAA College Division on the way to a 24-7 record. In the 1963-64 season, Thompson hauled down a career high 348 rebounds, fourth all-time UA best, and netted a career-high 200 points. That spring, in his only season of track, Thompson high jumped 6-6.75 to establish a school record that would last until 1980. Thompson sat out the 1964-65 season, but came back to help the Zips win 24 of 28 games in ’65-66, including capturing the OC and Mideast Regional Championships and finish third in the NCAA College Division Championships. Earl “The Pear” Monroe of Winston Salem State ended Thompson career 1967 and prevented he and his teammates from winning the only crown—the NCAA College Division—that evaded them in their illustrious careers. During Thompson’s years on the Hilltop, he hauled down 996 rebounds, sixth on the all-time list, and scored 841 points. For the past 18 years, Thompson, a 1968 UA graduate, has been employed at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, where he currently is Corporate Safety Engineer. He and his wife, Sharon, have two daughters, Tai and Kellie and reside in Akron.