10/19/09

John David Thompson III, a partner in the law firm of Thompson & Horton LLP, will be honored with the Golden Deeds Award from the Administrative Leadership Institute (ALI) in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University.

Thompson, who specializes in school law, has been representing school districts, colleges, universities and other educational entities for more than 30 years. He attended law school at the University of Texas School of Law, where he worked for the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, focusing on school finance and other educational issues.

Thompson currently serves as the legislative counsel to the Texas Association of School Administrators, Fast Growth School Coalition, Houston Independent School District, and other school districts and educational organizations. He also has taught at the University of Texas School of Law, Texas A&M and University of Houston.

"I love practicing school law because it is about the future—how well we educate the next generation will have more impact on our economy, democracy, families and civic institutions than any other one thing we can do today," Thompson says.

"My role as a school attorney is to help educators have the tools—time, money, personnel and public support—to educate all kids as well as they can," he adds.

"Mr. Thompson has literally performed thousands upon thousands of golden deeds for public education throughout his esteemed legal career of serving and representing schools," says Bill McKinney, executive director of the Region 4 Education Service Center. "He is one of the few recognized experts in Texas school finance matters, having argued before the Texas Supreme Court on behalf of hundreds of school districts."

The Golden Deeds Award is considered the highest recognition for distinguished service to education in the state and is given to an individual from any profession who has consistently supported Texas students and teachers through his/her positive impact on public education.

Thompson will be honored at the ALI opening banquet at the Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas, on Nov. 18, 2009, at 6 p.m.