Grace Smith Thompson was born and raised in Bay City, Texas. Her father was a master electrician, philanthropist and civil rights activist. Grace and her four brothers learned at an early age, from both parents, to be active in church and community.

Grace graduated from A.G. Hilliard High School in Bay City and attended Wharton County Junior College before transferring to Texas A & I University in Kingsville. There, she received her B.S. in Elementary Education in 1969, an M.S. in Education in 1976 and a Mid-Management Certification in 1986. She taught for 28 years in Kingsville ISD before coming to Seguin in 1990.

She spent several years teaching second grade at Jefferson Ave. Elementary before becoming a counselor there until her retirement in 2002. After retiring, she returned to Seguin ISD to work as interim principal at McQueeney Elementary and as a counselor at several elementary schools. Sherwood Thompson was born in Wheelock, Texas. He and his brother and two sisters spent their childhood in many Texas towns since their father was a preacher. When Sherwood was in seventh grade, the family moved from Houston to Kingsville. He graduated from Kingsville High School before attending Pratt Junior College in Kansas. He transferred to Texas A & I University where he played football and was active in the Baptist Student Union. While he was still a student, he served as a police officer for the Kingsville Police Department.

While at Texas A & I, Sherwood met the love of his life, Grace Smith. They were married in 1965 in Bay City. They have one daughter: Dr. Teresa Lynn Thompson who is a training specialist for the Texas Workforce Commission.

Sherwood taught History at Kingsville High School and coached golf and football. He later became a counselor and then principal at Colston Elementary in Kingsville ISD. In 1990, he was hired to be principal of Ball Elementary in Seguin ISD until he retired in 1997.

Grace and Sherwood have been active in the Second Baptist Church and the McQueeney Lion’s Club where Sherwood has served as president for three years and Grace has flipped hundreds of hamburgers and baked many cakes. Sherwood also served on the board of the Heritage Museum.

Grace’s community involvements include serving on the Mental Health Mental Retardation Board, Family Awareness Board and as a committee member for the Coalition for a Drug-Free Community. She is a long time member of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Organization which is an honorary organization for women educators.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have touched the lives of thousands in Seguin and Kingsville by sharing their time, gifts and talents.