The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Thompson Is Still Not Done Giving To City

WAITSBURG - We thought Bill Thompson couldn't have been more giving. But we were wrong.

A longtime Waitsburg resident, Thompson passed away last September. The community truly mourned the passing of Thompson because of how much he contributed to our little community. He was involved in everything - the ambulance board, historical society, Masonic Lodge, Commercial Club, Lion's Club, fire department, Wheelers and spent years on the city council.

Thompson was often called "Buffalo Bill" because he helped start the annual Lion's Club buffalo feed during the Fall Festival each September.

At the recent Waitsburg City Council meeting, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe announced that Thompson wasn't yet done giving.

In his will, Thompson had left a building he owned behind the Waitsburg Business Center and next to the city's equipment lot, to the city.

"This is a happy surprise," said Thompson's close friend Wayne Peterson.

Bu Peterson added he's not really shocked that Thompson would be so generous because he was "a city guy," he said.

The building was originally used as the shop for Thompson's Waitsburg Television Cable Company that served the local area and housed tools.

After it was a shop, the building served as a place to store Thompson's motor home and old cars, Peterson said.

Dan Katsel, the public works director for the city of Waitsburg, said Thompson's gift is tremendous. The city has tried to obtain funding to build a centrally located shop with heat to keep equipment warm and ready to use in the winter, but it has proved thus far to be too costly. Now, with the new building, equipment can be stored in it year-round.

"It's a real benefit," Katsel said. "It's wonderful for us to be able to store our equipment in there."

Katsel said it is vital that equipment is kept warm during the winter months so machines start up instantly when they need them in emergencies and tough weather conditions.

And with only three small buildings for the equipment, it's really crowded, Katsel added.

He said he found out about one month ago that the building is to go to the city and Hinchliffe said the process has been started to transfer ownership, but he does not yet know exactly when it will be in the city's hands.

Before that time, Katsel said he had heard rumors about the gift but he didn't know whether to believe them.

Katsel said he and his five public works crew members really appreciate the gift, Thompson and his wife Lou.

Once the building is in the city's hands, Mayor Walt Gobel suggested at the council meeting to name it the Bill Thompson Memorial Building or add a plaque outside to honor Thompson's memory and service to the city.

Katsel said he had known Thompson through his work on the council and while the two didn't always agree, Thompson would listen to him.

"I think he was a good man," Katsel said.

Peterson agreed and added that this little city wouldn't be what it is without Thompson's help in the community.

"A lot of stuff was done in Waitsburg because of Bill," Peterson said.