V. Thompson Snyder was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Verne A. and Merle Thompson Snyder on February 27, 1932. He went to grade school and high school in Omaha. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in education from the University of Nebraska in 1953, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon and was active in many student activities. From 1953 to 1955, he served as second lieutenant in the Army Military Police Corps. Upon his discharge from service in 1955, Thompson enrolled in the University of Nebraska, College of Law. During law school, he serve as executive editor of the Nebraska Law Review and as a member of both the Order of the Coif and the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. Thompson was also on the winning team for the Allen Moot Court competition. Thompson graduated Cum Laude and was awarded his Juris Doctorate in June 1958.
Thompson married Janet Lovseth on June 9, 1958, in Lincoln, Neb., and they immediately moved to Oregon, where Thompson began working as deputy legislative counsel for the State of Oregon. Thompson and Janet had three daughters, Jill, Ann and Sally.
In 1963, Thompson earned his Master of Law in Taxation from NYU in 1965 and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court. For most of his legal career, Thompson practiced law in Corvallis and enjoyed many professional associations. He was a member of the Oregon State Bar, serving as chairman and vice-chairman of the Oregon State Bar Section on Estate Planning and Administration and as chairman of the Oregon State Bar Committee on Trust Legislation. He was also a member of the Oregon Estate Planning Council, Eugene Chapter, serving as a Director. He served as a President of the Benton County Bar Association. Thompson retired from his law practice in 1991.
Notwithstanding his busy professional life, Thompson generously gave back to our local community. He was a charter trustee of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, where he served one term as its President. He also served on the Board of Directors of BCF from 1984 to 1987, and as Board Chair from 1986 to 1987. Thompson was a Paul Harris Fellow and an active member of the Rotary Club of Corvallis. He was very involved with the Crescent Valley Boosters Club and youth sports activities.
Following Thompson’s death in April 2007, Janet and her daughters established the Thompson Snyder Memorial Fund at BCF. The fund benefits the Crescent Valley High School Girls’ golf program.