What qualities do you expect to see in a highly effective leader?
The qualities that I would probably see, is that people often talk about the word role model, people elevating people and all that, when I look at a leader, I look at a person with high standards, someone a person can depend on, a person who has integrity, a person who has good qualities, a person who you can, I guess would want to model yourself after, a true leader, a person who’s honest, and presents all the good qualities in life, that a person would look for in a leader.-Betty Thompson (43sec.)
Betty Thompson, Director,
The Kwame Foundation Inc.
LSL Class of 1989-90
A former Missouri State Representative, Betty L. Thompson, serves as Director of the Kwame
Foundation Inc. She is continuing her consulting career after many years working for the Human
Development Corporation.
In recognition of a Life Time of Achievements working and securing jobs for the youth, feeding the
hungry, helping the elderly, motivating the youth and single moms. Mrs. Thompson served as the 2000
Democratic Majority Whip while representing part of St. Louis County (District 72) in the MO House of
Representatives. Among her many firsts are:
- First African American female elected to the City Council of University City (1980)
- First African American elected to Women in Government - an arm of the prestigious Nations League of
- Cities (1987)
- First. African American female arrested in Washington, DC for protesting Apartheid in South Africa (1988)
- First African American to serve on the cabinet of St. Louis County Executive, Democrat Buzz Westfall
- (1991)
- First Democrat to be elected by the Republican Majority as Vice-chair of the Ethics Commission (2002)
Betty L. Thompson received the 2006 M.L. King Spirit Award from the U. City School Board and City Council. In addition, Thompson has received the Gwen Giles Award, Drum Major for Peace Award by
the 51. louis Cleary Coalition, Outstanding legislative Mother of the Year Award from the U.S. State
Senator, Jet Banks, KMOX Radio and Suburban Journal's Women of Achievement Award, Riverfront
Times' Best of St. Louis-Politician of the Year, S1. louis Post-Dispatch Outstanding Women in leadership,
Ernest and DeVerne lee Calloway Award, and the St. louis M.L. King Leadership Award. Mrs. Thompson
is the former VP-Membership for the Coalition of 100 Black Women, HOC Employee and Community
Service Award.
She has been honored by the following creations in her name; the Betty L. Thompson Scholarship at
Washington University School of Medicine, The Betty l. Thompson Scholarship at the
Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, the Betty L. Thompson Room in the
University City Early Childhood School, the Betty L. Thompson Walking Trail at Millar Park in University
City, a vegetable in the Hip Hop Community Garden, and a portrait in the abandon building project
sponsored by Better Family life, Sumner High School Hall of Fame. Mrs. Thompson has received many,
many awards, too numerous to mention.
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