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Photo courtesy: LinkedIn
September 21, 2024 (San Diego) -- San Diego State University's Black Resource Center was named in memory of entrepreneurs Gus & Emma Thompson Monday, after a $5 million gift from brothers Ron and Lloyd Dong, Jr. and their spouses, Janice and Girina.
A tribute to Emma and Gus Thompson, brothers Ron and Lloyd Dong, Jr., announced the gift in March. The former rented in the 1930's to and eventually sold to the Dong family the house where the latter grew up.
Photo courtesy: SDSUAccording to researcher Kevin Ashley, "Gustavus A. Thompson was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1859. He was working as a coach driver in Henderson during 1885 when he met E.S. Babcock, a founder of the Hotel del Coronado, who was visiting Thompson’s wealthy employer on a fundraising mission for the hotel."
In "Gus & Emma Thompson: A Treasure for San Diego," Tobin Vaughn writes, "The Dongs’ heritage is Chinese and in their parents’ day, people of color faced difficulty renting or buying property in Coronado. The Thompsons’ gesture was exceptional."
According to San Diego State University, "SDSU’s Gus and Emma Thompson Black Resource Center will be able to expand academic programs, provide additional mentors, expand mental health programming, provide additional resources to support students’ basic needs, upgrade facilities, and much more."
Comments
Emma Thompson Became Involved With Bethel A.M.E.!
This story also highlights the fact that Emma Thompson became involved with Bethel A.M.E. Church in San Diego, the oldest and first black church in San Diego, and also the church that I was once the President of the Bethel A.M.E. Prison Ministry, ministering to inmates at Donovan Prison and the George Bailey Center Jail in San Diego. As a matter of fact, the editor of the subject East County Magazine, was my guest at the Bethel A.M.E. Church many years ago.
Amen! So proud to be a former resident of San Diego!
This just underscores the fact that my former home of San Diego is such a progressive city, and I applaud the San Diego State University Black Resource Center for recognizing Emma and Gus Thompson! I have so many fond memories of this great city, including the more than 400 book reviews that I have written for the East County Magazine, as well as the enjoyment of spending time on Ocean Beach!