National Football Foundation

David Thompson lettered at Tufts University for three consecutive years, 1959-61, with the Jumbos, playing tackle. A captain in two varsity sports – football and track – the 6’3’’ and 210 pounder claimed honors as the recipient of the Bennett Memorial Prize Scholarship for the student who best exemplifies the qualities of true sportsmanship. In 2012, he received the Tufts Jumbo Football alumni award for his outstanding career, placing him among the finest representatives of school. A native of Brookline, Mass., he also was the New England hurdles champion.

Among the top four students in his class, he ranked No. 1 in the school of engineering. He was a member of the Senior Honor Society, the Dean’s list, the Ivy Society and Tower Cross – an honor society that was seen as the highest honor an undergraduate could receive.

After graduating with both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Tufts, Thompson embarked on a successful career in geotechnical engineering, becoming president & CEO and then chairman of Haley & Aldrich. He belongs to the National Society of Professional Engineers, and he serves on several boards, including the Tufts Industry Advisory Council, Nitsch Engineering Advisory Committee and Engineers Leadership Foundation Board of Directors. He has served as visiting faculty member at both Tufts and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.