By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Thomson

NEW RICHMOND - Alva M. Thomson began his life of leadership and working with youth as manager of a group of Knothole players. He helped his team achieve a winning season the first year. There was no adult supervision, and team members rode their bicycles to "away" games.

The year was 1936, and Mr. Thomson was 12 years old.

Mr. Thomson, a longtime elementary school principal, died Dec. 11 at Mercy Anderson Hospital. The New Richmond resident was 78.

Born in 1924 in Ludlow to Scottish immigrants, Maggie and John Thomson, he played tennis for Ludlow High School and was a tennis champion in the Little Six Conference. He graduated in 1942.

Mr. Thomson served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater. He spent most of his time on a small landing craft that was converted to an artillery ship and shelled the beach before infantry landed.

In 1946, he married Shirley Westcott of Ludlow.

In 1949, he earned a master's degree at Eastern Kentucky State Teachers' College (now Eastern Kentucky University) and began teaching social studies at New Richmond High School.

From 1956 until his retirement in 1979, Mr. Thomson served as principal of New Richmond Elementary School, where he initiated several athletic programs for boys and girls. The Alva Thomson Award was begun in the 1988-89 school year, which annually recognizes a student who has the best attendance in all elementary years.

After retirement, he became a foster father to 32 teen-aged girls over eight years.

As a New Richmond Knothole coach for 10 years, Mr. Thomson helped boys' and girls' softball teams win county championships.

"He related well to kids - they loved and respected him," said his daughter, Connie Guild of Louisville. "He wasn't a man of many words. People said he was very fair."

He was an elder at the New Richmond Church of Christ and on the Session at the Cranston Memorial Presbyterian Church in New Richmond. He taught Sunday school and Bible school, and was a church camp teacher.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include two other daughters, Terry Moore of Bethel and Linda Skeene of New Richmond; a sister, Margaret James of Fort Mitchell; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several foster daughters.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1993 and a brother.

Services have been held. Interment was in the Watkins Hills Cemetery, New Richmond.

Memorials may be sent to a charity of the donor's choice.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com