The Thompsons Legacy/Activists & Public Servants

The Thompsons Legacy

All legacies have a beginning, and the Thompson family legacy began with Clayton “Bunny” Thompson and Irene Drayton Thompson, the parents of Clayton Jr., Christopher, and Kendall. Their three sons are the first trio of African American siblings to serve simultaneously as professional firefighters in the same fire department (Fairfax County, VA) in the United States. The Thompson brothers are three of eleven children who grew up in Alexandria public housing and attended and graduated from Alexandria City Public Schools. Aside from their careers and schooling, the Thompson family are also members of the Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. 

In the 1970s, the Fairfax County Government was under scrutiny for systemically discriminating against blacks and women in their hiring practices of professional, technical, and public safety careers. Clayton Thompson Jr., however, was recruited and hired by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Services in 1978, before the county lost the discrimination case in 1979. In 1982, the county signed a consent decree to hire minorities and women, opening many doors to future applicants. Under the influence of Clayton Jr., Christopher and Kendall were respectfully hired in 1983 and 1986. The gate was opened, and the Thompsons would inspire three other family members and Alexandrians to become Firefighters and EMTs. 

Together the Thompson brothers have over a century of expertise in fire and all-hazards response, paramedicine, training, fire system inspection, community outreach, recruitment, lobbying, fire administration, federal funding, health and safety, and more. They all serve as industry advocates and are viewed as mentors and role models by many in their community and around the U.S. In 2001, Christopher and Kendall responded to the well-known 9/11 attack at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. At the same time, Clayton Jr. was a first responder and assistant to the New York City 9/11 attack as well. He also responded to the Hurricane Katrina disaster in Pearlington, Mississippi in 2005 near the location where the hurricane made landfall. 

Before retiring, The Thompson brothers acquired the prominent and respected rank of captain for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Upon retirement, Clayton became a Fire Program Specialist with the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA. During his time at FEMA, he responded to assist with disaster survivors from Hurricane Super Storm Sandy in 2012 as well as Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Christopher was the Recruitment Manager for the Alexandria Fire Department and now serves as Chief of Staff for the Department. Kendall is now an outstanding author of several books of poetry, that are displayed in the Alexandria African American Hall of Fame. The word century is too much of a hyperbole. Adding the number of years doesn’t change the actual amount of time that they spent overcoming, educating, and serving multiple communities in the U.S. and especially their hometown of Alexandria, Virginia.