Update on the Restoration of the State Capitol – Trait Thompson
Trait Thompson was named Project Manager of the State Capitol Restoration Project in July 2014 by Preston Doerflinger, Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Prior to that, Trait served since 2010 as Legislative Director and Senior Policy Advisor to President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman in the Oklahoma Senate.
In addition to his experience in state government, Trait has worked in the business consulting, nonprofit, and telecommunications fields. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in 2000 with a degree in Finance and from Texas A&M University in 2007 with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He is the chairman of the State Capitol Preservation Commission and a board member of Friends of the Capitol. He is also an adjunct professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Oklahoma. Trait’s wife, Sara, is a wedding planner and they have two young children.
Chair of the Day
Jerry was a pre-med major in college and received his Bachelor’s of Science degree from Northeastern in 1967. He chose to go into the draft that summer and spent his basic training at the resort known at Fort Polk down in Louisiana. After basic he was ordered to Washington, D.C. where he trained at Walter Reed Medical Center and became a member of the Walter Reed Institute of Research. He spent a year in Vietnam as a member of the Surgical Research Trauma Study Team.
In 1974, he graduated from the St. Louis/Washington University Physician Assistant Program where he was the class president. He was a founding member of the Missouri Academy and was also the president and a founding member of the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants.
Jerry received his Master’s of Science, Business and Health Administration from the University of Colorado in 1987. He was the executive director of the University of Oklahoma Medical Alumni Association from 1987 to 1999.
He and his wife Carleen have six children, Charles a chef, graduated from the Culinary Institute in New York. David a physician graduated from Saint Louis University Medical School and is a Diagnostic Radiologist here in Oklahoma City, John, after graduating from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics attended the United States Naval Academy where he was President of his Class and now a Psychiatrist. Paula graduated an Honor student from the University of Oklahoma and is the mother of the Best Grand Daughter possible. Nancy a graduate of the Oklahoma School of Sciences and Mathematics, graduated with Honors from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Will, after graduating from OSSM, graduated with Honors in Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Some of Jerry’s work- related achievements include member of the Walter Reed Trauma Study Unit and Surgical Research Team Vietnam, Founding Member of the Missouri Academy of Physicians Assistants, Founding Member/President of the Illinois Academy of Physicians Assistants, Chairman of the Board Tri- County Mental Health Association, Executive Director of the OU Medical Alumni Association, Chairman of the Board of Directors Friends of the Capitol, numerous Boards including Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Foundation, Aztec School Foundation, Oklahoma History Center Foundation, YMCA International Board, South Central Rotary Youth Exchange Board (composed from 18 States)
Rotary Outbound Camp Medical Director for many years, Rotary International Council on Legislation 2017-18 (Chicago for a week with 350 Delegates from around the World), District Governor’s Citation 2017-18 in Honor of and With Deep Appreciation for Years of Service as Chairman of our Youth Exchange Program, Oklahoma City Club Rotarian of the Year 1999-2000, Club Presidential Citation 2000-2001, Paul Harris Society, Major Donor Plus 8.
Jerry is currently a Member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. He has a long history at the school including recruiting Mentors for the school and three of there children have graduated from the school. John attended the US Naval Academy and was President of his Class, is a psychiatrist with the 1st Battalion Marines, Nancy attended Trinity College in Dublin Ireland, graduated in 4 years with Honors, is working with an International firm in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Will graduated from OU degree in Engineering, working for Northrop Grumman in Oklahoma City, and completing his Master’s Degree from Georgia Tech.