Grambling Alumni Begin Scholarship in Honor of Brother Killed During Vietnam War

Anyone who knew Perry Thompson would say he was a good man. The New Iberia native was a protective older brother who watched out for his little brother, served his country and dreamed of playing football for legendary Coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University.

Perry Thompson graduated from Jonas Henderson High School in 1967 and was set to attend Grambling in the fall, though he never got the chance to fulfill his dreams. Perry Thompson died in 1968, half a world away from Louisiana, while serving in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his bravery and sacrifice.

Perry’s younger brother, Don Thompson, never forgot about his big brother’s desire to attend Grambling, and now he is helping other New Iberia residents fulfill their dreams of attending Grambling.

Thompson and his wife, Berdell, set up a scholarship in honor of Perry. The Perry E. Thompson Non-Endowed Memorial Scholarship awards two $2,500 scholarships to Grambling students from New Iberia who are incoming or second-semester freshmen in good academic standing with at least a 2.5 GPA and involved in extra-curricular activities.

“I just wanted to give back to my hometown and keep my brother alive. He was a real great man. He was my shadow as I was his shadow while we grew up in the little town of New Iberia. I learned a lot from him. He always felt he had to protect his little brother,” Don Thompson said.

While Perry Thompson never got to become a Grambling Tiger, it seems quite poetic that the first recipient of his memorial scholarship is a member of the GSU football team.

“He had plans of coming to play ball for Grambling, and it’s fitting and proper that one of the first recipients played ball,” Don Thompson said.

The first scholarship recipient is Davante’ Brown, a 19-year old freshman majoring in sports management who plays left and right tackle and left and right offensive guard for the GSU football team.

“I feel very honored that I can accept this scholarship. Just being from a small town, for something like this to happen, it’s amazing. I just want to thank Mr. Thompson for allowing someone like me to get this opportunity,” Brown said.