Millennium Magazine_4th Ed

131 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine G rowing up with a ranching family, Dr. Tommy Burt Thompson desired to enter a profession where he could enjoy the outdoors. After taking a course in geology at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, he discovered his passion and, soon thereafter, pursued the subject. Obtaining a PhD in geology from the University of New Mexico in 1966, he began working as an assistant professor of geology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, a position he held until 1973. From there, he commenced his tenure at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, holding the role of professor of geology from 1973 to 1995, and then as professor of economic geology from 1997 to 2014 in the Mackay School of Mines at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). In addition to his UNR appointment, he was Director of the Ralph J. Roberts Center for Research in Economic Geology at that institution, largely supported by the mining industry. Alongside his primary career responsibilities, he has been a consultant and chief executive officer of Economic Geology Consulting in Reno. Likewise, he has been a certified professional geologist since 2005. The former editor of “Guidebook Series: Society of Economic Geologists” from 1986 to 2002, from which he garnered the Marsden Award in 2005, Dr. Thompson is also a past vice president of the Society of Economic Geologists and past president of the Geological Society of Nevada, where he has been serving as a member since 1997. A Fellow of the Geological Society of America and Society of Economic Geologists, he also maintained affiliation as a Legion of Honor member in the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). Among the notable moments of his career, Dr. Thompson is proudest of spending multiple years working with an operating mine in Leadville, Colorado, which was documented in a monograph by the Society of Economic Geologists. Likewise, he also conducted a series of workshops across the globe. Married with four children, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Dr. Thompson enjoys leatherworking and being outdoors in his spare time. TOMMY BURT THOMPSON, PHD COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY University of Nevada, Reno Reno, NV EDUCATION Millennium Magazine Featured Listee