Alumni Spotlight - Conrad Thompson
Conrad Thompson considers his time at EvCC “the golden years of my education and life experience.” While at EvCC, Conrad served as student body president and wrote a weekly column for the school paper, among many other activities. “Involvement in student activities was responsible for my becoming an effective change agent, especially while I was the director of the Bureau of Nursing Home Affairs for the State of Washington,” he recalls. “It culminated in testimony I presented before the U.S. Senate in 1986 on the need for nursing home reform.” In 1968, he established Whatcom County’s District Court Probation Department and, in 1992, the Everett District Court Probation Department. Now retired, Conrad pursues his love of photography, writing, and music, as well as volunteering. “I learned the value of volunteering at EvCC,” he says.
What is your current occupation/career?
I retired in 2005.
How did you choose EvCC?
My brother Bill and several friends informed me that EvCC was an excellent choice to further my education.
Do you think your time at EvCC helped you pursue your career? How?
I consider the time spent at EvCC the golden years of my education and life experience. Involvement in student activities were responsible for my becoming an effective change agent, especially while I was the Director of the Bureau of Nursing Home Affairs for the State of Washington. It culminated in testimony I presented before the United States-Senate in 1986 on the need for nursing home reform. In 1968, I established Whatcom County’s District Court Probation and in 1992 the Everett District Court Probation Department.
What did you do after you left or graduated from EvCC?
After graduating from EvCC, I graduated from Western Washington University receiving a BA Degree. In 1974, I graduated from Seattle University with a Masters Degree in Adult Education and Administration. At graduation from Seattle University, when I stepped up to receive my diploma, the University President stepped aside and Jeanette Poore of EvCC came forward and presented my diploma. A special moment for me!
Was there anyone during your time at EvCC who acted as a mentor for you? If so, please tell me about that relationship.
Jeanette Poore, the Dean of Student’s at EvCC, was my mentor. She set up a schedule for me to take a GED test before joining the Army. I got out of the Army two weeks early in time to sign up for classes at EvCC. She met with me twice a month, stating at one meeting, “I expect great things from you”. I wasn’t about to disappoint her! Her counsel proved to be a substantial motivator for me. I learned “Robert’s Rules of Order” and served as; Vice President of the Associated Men Students, a member of the Coordinating Council, chaired two talent shows, a fund raiser for a student receiving treatment for Leukemia raising $1,500, chaired the Coffee House Speakers Program, and wrote a weekly column for the school paper, The Clipper. As Associated Student Body President, I brought about many changes, including extending voting rights to night students providing them the opportunity to vote in student elections.
What words of advice would you give to current EvCC students?
I encourage students to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with their professors, and to get involved in student government and/or participate in special activities. Participation will help make your time at EvCC special, forming your own “golden memories” and result in enhanced life experiences that will serve you well as you head into the future.
Any other information you would like to provide.
In 1992, I wrote an editorial for the Seattle PI pertaining to loopholes in the states DUI laws. Representative O’Brien, who was a very respected member of the House of Representattives, read the editorial. I had recommended 18 changes to the State’s DUI Laws. He invited me to Olympia and to a meeting in the Senate where he was scheduled to speak. Instead, he introduced me and had me cover the the loopholes and recommendations I had made in the editorial. That testimony and and the editorial resulted in the 1992 Omnibus Drunk Driving laws which contained the 18 recommendations I had made.
I spent a great deal of my work and energy on the serious problem of DUIs. When I was six years old, I was hit by a DUI driver in a crosswalk, throwing me 150 feet down the road. I was in Harborview Hospital in Seattle for four-and-a-half months. When I came out of the coma, I was in a hospital bed with a lot of weights pulling my body back in shape. The first thing the doctor said to me was, “It just wasn’t your day to die." I had to learn to walk again and will never forget all the work it took over those months.
So, you can understand why this issue is so important to me; so many individuals are killed or injured due to DUIs. I have heard many families and loved ones shed their tears as their loved ones' names were added to the Victims Memorial Wall. (Snohomish County Treasurer) Kirke Sievers attended every dedication of names and shed tears with the rest of us.
I learned the value of volunteering at EvCC. When I asked students to volunteer, they almost always stepped up. This carried over into my later years. I served as chairman of the Snohomish County DUI Task Force for 20 and chaired the task force to establish the “DUI Victims Memorial Wall,” located at McCollum Park. Volunteering enriches your life and that of the community.
Perhaps, you can understand why EvCC was a life changer for me and indeed, represents the golden years of my journey on this good ship earth.
"Forever Together" - by Conrad Thompson
Hear, the old grey alders whispering with the wind.
See, new leaves budding form, rustling about
Their ringing part in the sentinels
Rising tall up the eastern bank,
The sun warming a widening girth.
Below, clear culvert water flowing
Filling full a pond mirroring aging alders,
Reflecting with white puffy clouds.
Resting down the the westward bank
A pump house homesteads.
Its pipe wire wrapped to keep from freezing
The irons’ way into the bedded creek, afore the dam.
Now right here, this world of mothers’ farm
Taking a turn, eclipsed by a life long love,
A partnership so like our own.
Flying in from the south mallards land
In grey reflections, on sky blue water.
Drake and hen at the threshold of dawn,
Embracing their new home.
Herein one week joins
A warm sheltered center
Lined with downy feather,
Attached to the east side bank.
Counting, laid green eggs accumulate.
Hovering over them, nested
Mothers’ spreading warmth
Of blended browns remain.
Majestically, a divine head,
The blue winged drake
Downward descends into the pond,
Foraging , finding food, feeding his mate.
Atop the culvert a young boy watches
In awe and holy silence. Behold him
The culverts’ grace seeding a
Web-footed path with corn and bread.
Endlessly, the morning sun rises.
Now sending light touching fingers
To the water culvert exit, as
Mother proud swims out
With seven golden ducklings,
Like spun cotton candy,
Behind her in a line.
Indeed, the glowing globe rejoices,
Spinning round these precious days.
The eye of the world watches
A hawk circling in azure blue,
The will of sun along.
Always alert, mother seeing too,
As talons streak, bullet down the sky.
With the instinct of the ages,
She sounds the alarm and
Quickly go the brown and gold
Upside down underwater.
Two times four his attacks repeating.
Finally defeated, the hawk retreats.
The dear ones spared the threat on high.
Furthermore, for five more blessed years,
These two calling, landing in our spring fed pond.
Earth’s seasons added a seventh year.
Yet, starkly only one alone returns.
This boy begins a vigil long;
Watching, waiting weekends
Dawn to dark, adding weekday afternoons
Through dusk, at times in a fog,
Ending in lonely sadness.
Wet drops down pouring tender cheeks.
Down deep inside this human heart,
From its culvert exit, life again flows out,
Reaching the glory of brown and gold.
Even deeper, deep-seated within
The harmony of chambers
Dwell these loves too,
Forever together, in azure blue.