Thanks for support for Thompson Park

The Friends of Thompson Memorial Park want to thank our community for the outstanding support we received on the re-naming of the city park in honor of early day Kalispell resident, businessman, and “Father of Kalispell baseball,” John Gustav Thompson, and for support and assistance on the rehabilitation of the baseball field.  

In particular, these people and groups must be thanked by name: The Kalispell City Council for restoring the historic name of the park; the Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department for great cooperation on this public/private project; Eagle Scout Steven King for restoration of the dugouts as his Eagle project and Western Building Center for the donation of his materials; the Sunriser Lions for the donation of new chain link fencing for the backstop, sidelines, and dugouts; the Montana Historical Society for help in creating, and the donation of, the historic marker; the Pittsburg Pirates Major League Baseball Club for allowing us to use their logo on the marker; the Signs by Southwell Company of San Antonio, Texas, for rushing the manufacture and shipping of the marker so that it could be installed in time for our April 25 re-dedication ceremony; Jeremy Watterson, member of the Society of American Baseball Research and co-author of the book, “Montana Baseball History” (to be released this June) for sharing his knowledge about Gus Thompson and for putting us in touch with the Pirates; former Kalispell baseball umpire Joe Uzdavinis for his assistance in finding Thompson family members; the Daily Inter Lake for help in our research of their archives; the Kalispell Elks Lodge for donating and preparing hot dogs and beverages for everyone at the ceremony and baseball game; Mr. Jim Korn of Conrad Memorial Cemetery for sharing his knowledge of Gus Thompson and providing assistance for the ceremony; Woodland Floral for brightening the ceremony with lovely plants; Brock Anderson, FHS shop teacher for the new Thompson Memorial Park signs; Northwest Portables for the donation of sanitary facilities for the ceremony; the Kalispell Pee Wee baseball league and their Elks and Lion’s teams and coaches for putting on a game for us; Alan West for singing the national anthem; Becky Groose for constant support and assistance over the past year and a half; Gus’ grandson Bruce and wife Linda of Woodinville, Washington, for rearranging their travel schedule in order to be with us for the ceremony; Captain Ross and Patricia Sugg of Bremerton, Washington, for providing us a copy of their photo of Gus and the 1903 Pittsburg Pirates World Series team; and to everyone who donated time or money to this effort.  

Our apologies to anyone who has been inadvertently left out. —Betsy Wood, Kalispell, Chair, Friends of Thompson Memorial Park