School named in honor of Sun’s Thompson

Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.

The Sandra Lee Thompson Elementary School opened Wednesday, following ceremonies dedicating the campus to the memory of the former vice president, associate editor and award-winning columnist of the Sun.

"It is a great tribute to her," former Las Vegas Sun Managing Editor Gary Thompson said of the Northwest Las Vegas school named for his wife.

Sandy Thompson was killed in an auto collision on Aug. 9, 2002. She was 55.

Writing skills will be emphasized to the 800 students attending the school at 7351 N. Campbell Road, Principal Brett Booth said.

"It is only fitting that a school named in honor of Sandy Thompson would focus on writing and journalism," Booth said, noting that the school will publish print and online newspapers.

Gary Thompson, now the World Series of Poker's director of communications and operations, said, "Learning clear and concise writing will give students an advantage down the road when they go to college and into the workforce."

Thompson Elementary, which chose as its nickname the Trojans because Sandy Thompson was a University of Southern California fan, is one of nine schools that opened Wednesday in Clark County.

Gary and Sandy's daughter, Kelly Thompson, said she is proud that generations of youngsters will get to know who her mother was.

Sandy Thompson, who joined the Sun in 1978, also served as features editor and managing editor before becoming associate editor. Her stories and columns inspired changes in state law regarding the family court system.

Thompson won the 1997 Nevada State Press Association's Story of the Year award for "A Family Torn," about how a Las Vegas couple lost guardianship of their daughter to the daughter's boyfriend's parents.