McKinley William Thompson Jr. (1922 - 2006)

Born 8 Nov 1922 in Queens, New York City, New York, United States [uncertain]

Died 5 Mar 2006 at age 83 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

McKinley Thompson Jr. is Notable.

McKinley Thompson Jr. was the first Black designer at Ford Motor Company.^[1] He helped design the first-generation Ford Bronco.^[1]

McKinley William Thompson Jr. was born in Queens, New York City^[1] on 8 November 1922,^[2] a son of McKinley Thompson and Evelyn Trent^[2]

After graduating from high school in 1940, McKinley used his drawing skills to work as a draftsman.^[3] He served in the Army Signal Corps as an engineering design layout coordinator^[1] between 1941 and 1953.^[3] He entered a design contest in Motor Tend magazine in 1953 and won a scholarship to Pasadena, California's ArtCenter College of Design.^[3] He graduated with a degree in transportation design In 1956.^[1]

He was hired to work at the Ford Design Center in the Ford Advanced Studio after college.^[3] He became known for his creative concept sketches, and contributed design ideas to well known models like Mustang as well as concept vehicles.^[3] His design work on the Bronco sports-utility vehicle was notably influential.^[1]

McKinley eventually became manager of the Appearance Development and Feasibility Design Modeling Department at the Ford Motor Company Design Center in Dearborn, Michigan in August 1976.^[3] He retired in 1984.^[3]

He passed away in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan^[3] on 5 March 2006,^[2][4] and is buried at Lakeview United Methodist Church Columbarium in Sun City, Maricopa, Arizona.^[5]

Research Notes

Siblings:

Yvonne Thompson (New York 1924-),^[6][7]

Marceline Thompson (New York 1938-),^[6][7]

Stanley Thompson (New York 1930-),^[6][7]

Gerald Thompson (New York 1936-),^[7]

Jacqueline Thompson (New York 1939-)^[7]

Allen Thompson (New York 1941-)^[8]

Collette Thompson (New York 1945-)^[8]

Spouses:

Jasanita Thompson (Virginia 1925-)^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "McKinley Thompson Jr.—Ford’s First African American Designer—and his Bronco Legacy ," Vintage Road & Racecar (Web page : accessed 9 January 2021).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," database, Ancestry.com (Shareable record : accessed 9 January 2021), McKinley William Thompson Jr; citing Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} "McKinley Thompson (1922-2006)." Blackpast (Web page : accessed 9 January 2021).
4. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VMQY-DY8 : 11 January 2021), Mckinley W Thompson, 05 Mar 2006; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 9 January 2021), memorial page for McKinley W. Thompson (1922–2006), Find A Grave: Memorial #64459449, citing Lakeview United Methodist Church Columbarium, Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA ; Maintained by Bob Herschelman (contributor 46946018).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} "United States Census, 1930"
   citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1036, sheet 7A, line 46, family 141, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1577; FHL microfilm 2,341,312.
   FamilySearch Record: X4GB-GV6 (accessed 6 April 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RZT-973Z Image number 00944
   Mc Kinley Thompson (7), single son, in household of Mc Kinley Thompson (32) in Manhattan (Districts 1001-1249), New York, New York, United States. Born in New York.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} "United States Census, 1940"
   citing enumeration district (ED) 41-549, sheet 9A, line 13, family 215, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2730.
   FamilySearch Record: K793-L3W (accessed 6 April 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9MB-9W36
   McKinley Thompson (17), single son, in household of McKinley Thompson (42) in Queens, New York City, New York, United States. Born in New York.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} "United States 1950 Census"
   citing Page: 2; Line: 6;
   FamilySearch Record: 6F9B-RX1R (accessed 6 April 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-9QHW-L936-N
   McKinley Thompson (27), married, Draftsman, head of household in Asbury Park, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States. Born in New York.

See also:

• Wikipedia: McKinley Thompson Jr.
• Wikidata: Item Q103792870, en:Wikipedia
• FamilySearch Record: GJTW-S26 profile of McKniley Thompson.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #64459449 Mckinley W Thompson.