Thompson always ready for a challenge

Maynard Thompson began his teaching career at Peterson High School in the fall of 1957 and stayed there his entire career in education. That’s definitely not to say that he had a boring career. Thompson was originally from Peterson; his mother was a teacher there. The summer after his second year of college, the local superintendent saw him downtown and asked him what he was planning to do in life, Maynard replied he was thinking of teaching. At that, the superintendent asked him if he’d be willing to begin that very fall. After consideration, Maynard decided to give it a try. The superintendent lined up a limited permit. Maynard’s assignment was seventh and eighth grade, all subjects – a total of 13 classes a day to prep and deliver! Many times he had to relearn the lessons before he could present them!

Thompson took classes in the summers to finish his Bachelor of Education, eventually earning a degree in math, science, and English.

When the Peterson band director became ill, the superintendent once again came to Maynard, asking him to take on the position. Maynard at that time only knew how to play the trumpet and had not taken any music courses in college. Thompson rose to the challenge though and took the position. While he was giving lessons to students, he was also taking lessons himself, learning to play the clarinet, oboe, and low brass.

Becoming disenchanted with teaching, Thompson eventually decided to go back to school full-time himself for a while. He chose to work on his Masters in Education as well as a music major which required a hefty 81 credits at the same time. Upon learning that he needed an additional specialist degree to become a principal, he kept on taking classes to earn that degree as well.

Thompson ended up teaching music at Peterson for 25 years; at that time, he received yet another challenge. With computers just coming into regular use, Kent Nelson, Peterson’s superintendent, came to Maynard to ask if he would switch to teaching computer classes. Once again, Maynard took the challenge; Jacob Olson was hired to direct the band, and Thompson found himself teaching automated accounting, word processing, keyboarding, coding, and keyboarding for elementary classes.

At the consolidation of Rushford and Peterson districts, Maynard changed jobs yet again and became the middle school principal. He enjoyed his position and the students at that level. According to Thompson, “It’s your last chance to catch them!” He refused to give up on students and give them an F; instead he set up academic coaching for after school every Tuesday. He proudly declared that only one student failed out of 200.

In 1995, health issues led Thompson to retire from education, but he certainly didn’t stop working. Maynard and his wife Sandy had moved to a house on his parents’ farm early in their marriage. In return for free rent, he cared for the beef cattle on the farm. He continued to raise beef throughout his career to this day currently at around 50 head. He also sold seed corn for several different companies for around 10 years.

When his son Brad bought his farm, Maynard and Sandy in turn bought an empty lot in South Rushford from Brad. On that lot, they had a log cabin home built – something Sandy had always wanted.

Brad does custom farming for other farmers in the area, planting and hauling their harvests as well as his own farming of 1,000 acres or so. Maynard’s beef cattle are pastured on the farm on land not suitable for crops. Maynard has hay equipment and with the help of his grandson Noah, still makes hay.

In his retirement, Maynard still keeps busy. He played for 20 years with the Winona Brass Band before switching to the Chatfield Brass Band. The band spends their weekly sessions during the winter months preparing for a Christmas concert and a summer music series which is presented almost every Thursday night throughout the summer.

Maynard himself practices his trumpet every day. He noted, “It’s physical, you have to keep practicing to stay in shape.” He added that he encourages his wife Sandy to play keyboard along with him as much as possible.

Another interest of his has been vintage base ball. He started playing at age 75 and was an original member of the Highland Prairie Hayseeds. He pitched for the team against a La Crescent team before retiring from base ball at 80 years old.

He enjoys golfing and playing ball with his grandkids. Currently, grandson Josh spends time at his house with Grandpa Maynard taking him to his ball games and practices and practicing extra with him. Thompson has three sons, Brian, Brad, and Jeff, and four grandchildren. During our interview, Maynard received the news that his first great-grandchild had just been born. Proud Great-grandpa Maynard was thrilled!

Maynard shared that he has no regrets about his life, “I did a lot of things without being prepared and I was still successful. I’m not a business person; I never wanted to be a superintendent.”

He is most proud of the fact that some of his best friends are former students, pointing to the band he had gotten together for Gammel Dag which consisted of almost totally former students. One memento he was extremely proud of was a picture of Peterson High School Band at the state fair. This was the same year Peterson boys basketball got third in state. There were only 18 students in the junior class, but every one of them was also in band!

Maynard likes to stay busy; he shared that he’d be playing with some other people at Rushford Lutheran on Sunday for a customary yearly performance.

Eighty-five-year-old Thompson’s advice to other senior citizens and retirees, “Keep busy — it’s worked for me!”