Roosevelt L. Thompson

(http://www.lrcentralhigh.org/rooseveltPictures/roosevelt1.jpg)

Roosevelt Thompson was born in Little Rock. He attended the famous Little Rock High School, site of the 1957 Little Rock Nine civil right's confrontation. Roosevelt became the poster child showing the amazing heights students can achieve in integrated settings.

Rosey re-set the bar for academic excellence both in high school and college. At Central he was student body president, editor of the paper, a National Merit Scholar and graduated top in his class. While at school he was an All-State football player, worked three afternoon jobs including internships at the local paper and in Governor Bill Clinton's office.

In 1980 he matriculated to Yale. Yale's president Richard Levin describes Rosey as an meteor. He played football and was named a Truman Scholar, a Phi Beta Kappa recipient and then in 1984 he won a coveted Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. Rosey became a role model to both his fellow students and the college faculty.

On March 22 Roosevelt Thompson was killed in a tragic accident. His body was flown back to Arkansas under the direction of Governor Clinton's office. His funeral at Little Rock Central High School was a state funeral. The eulogy was given by Governor Clinton, members of Congress attended, and literally thousands paid tribute to the state's fallen hero. In 1987 Roosevelt Thompson was recognized and named an Arkansas Treasure by the state. In 2003 a library in Little Rock was named after this heroic young man who lead people through his scholarly approach towards life.

Arkansas PBS (AETN) and Candee Productions is filming an hour documentary on Rosey. To see a trailer go to www.lookingforrosey.org. Additionally, an educational website is being created that will share Rosey's research papers, link users with other agencies with which Rosey was associated and have video clips from the 70 plus interviewees taped for the documentary. Additionally, curriculum models are being designed to allow teachers to incorporate Rosey's inspiration love for learning into the classrooms to act as a role model for today's students.