2005 Assembly Joint Resolution 30
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Marian L. Thompson.
Whereas, Marian L. Thompson was born on November 23, 1917, in Palatine, Illinois, and died on March 8, 2005, at her home near Stoughton, Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson was a lifelong feminist activist who worked tirelessly for women's issues and political and social concerns; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson grew up in Syracuse, New York. She studied at Mount Holyoke College, where she received a BA and MA in philosophy. Afterwards, Marion studied at UW-Madison under Max Otto and Carol Bogholt; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson met and married former Wisconsin State Senator Carl W. Thompson from Stoughton, on October 3, 1942, and celebrated 60 years together until his death in 2002; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson began a 27-year career with the University of Wisconsin-Extension as a specialist and later a professor in women's education in the department of family living, working on a variety of innovative programs for women and families; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson was a member of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women and chair of the Wisconsin Women's Network, intermittently serving as their newsletter editor. She was a member of the Dane County League of Women Voters for more than 50 years, cochair of the Advisory Committee on Women Offenders of the Wisconsin Division of Corrections, charter member of the ARC House board, and member of the Dane County Adult Services Committee; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson was a staunch advocate for human rights and civil liberties, and she wrote and edited numerous publications on marital property reform, displaced homemakers, women and poverty, Native American women and girls, and childcare issues; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson served on the Stoughton school board for 21 years and was a leader in establishing girls' sports teams; and
Whereas, upon retiring from UW-Madison, she served on the board of directors for Independent Living, and was active in PLATO and the Prairie Unitarian Society; and
Whereas, Mrs. Thompson also continued her love of learning by taking classes in art history at the UW-Madison and became a docent at both the Elvehjem Art Center and the Madison Art Center. She had a lifelong passion for animals and reading and writing, and enjoyed hiking, skating, cross-country skiing, and swimming; now, therefore be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature commend the devoted public service Marian L. Thompson contributed to this state and her community, express their sorrow at her death, and extend condolences to her family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to Mrs. Thompson's four daughters, Jane Thompson, Anne Thompson, Margaret Thompson, and Elizabeth Thompson.
