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Norm Thompson was named a first team All-American in 1970.
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April 11, 2007
SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah Crimson Club Hall of Fame/Senior Awards Banquet will take place Monday, April 16. The banquet, which also honors graduating Ute senior student-athletes, will take place at the Sheraton City Center.
The 2007 Hall of Fame inductees are men's swimmer Darwin Killpack, football players Paul McDonough and Norm Thompson, and women's gymnast Aimee Trepanier Preston. Tickets are available to the public for $50. Reservations will be taken until noon on Friday by calling (801) 585-8837. There will be a social hour at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Killpack learned to swim simply by trial and error while growing up in Montana. But when Utah coach Don Reddish watched him compete at an AAU meet, Reddish was so impressed that he invited Killpack to join the Ute team on the spot. Little did he know that he had recruited an eventual All-American.
As a sophomore, Killpack placed seventh in the 1,500 meters in the NCAA Championships. His junior year, Killpack won three individual conference championships in record time, winning the 200 and 400 yard freestyle events, and the 1,500 meter freestyle. In the NCAA's, Killpack earned All-America honors by placing fifth in the 1,500 meters and sixth in the 200 yard freestyle. Killpack defended his conference title in those same three events as a senior, setting the conference records once again.
After helping Reddish as an assistant coach for two years at Utah, Killpack became the head swimming coach at Cyprus High School. His high school coaching success was legendary. In 26 years, Killpack's teams won 12 boys' state titles and three girls' crowns. He also directed 10 boys teams and two girls teams to state water polo championships. He also coached five All-Americans in swimming.
Darwin, and his first wife Patricia are the parents of two sons (Michael and Corey) and two daughters (Kristen and Shelley). His second wife Maxine passed away in December. All four children were swimmers. Shelley is married to former Ute swimmer Joe Periera.
McDonough played football for the Utes from 1934-37 under Ike Armstrong. As an offensive and defensive end, and occasional place kicker, he was an all-Big Seven honoree for three seasons. He was named all-conference first team for two years and was an All-America selection his senior year.
McDonough was also on the track team and participated in many other activities while at the U. After graduating in 1938, McDonough was drafted by Pittsburgh. He was traded to the Cleveland Rams, who later moved to Los Angeles, following the 1938 season. He played three seasons with the Rams, leading the NFL in yards per reception in 1940. He made many friends in the sports world including Satchel Paige and Babe Ruth.
After the 1941 season McDonough returned to Salt Lake and married his college sweetheart, Catherine Giles. He was soon drafted into the Army where he served as a special services officer in Guam.
Upon returning from the war McDonough became salesman for the Utility Trailer Company. He was active in civic affairs and he served as president of the U.'s Bleacher Quarterbacks. He also organized the first Little League football teams in the city.
A member of the Utes' All-Century football team, McDonough suffered an untimely death in 1960 at the age of 43. He is survived by his wife, three children (Paul, Susie and Dianne), 14 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.
Thompson was one of the best defensive backs to ever play for Utah. During his two-year Ute career from 1969-70 he set three NCAA records, as well as numerous school marks for pass interceptions. Thompson was a two-time first team all-conference selection and was named a first team All-American in 1970. He also was chosen a member of the Utes' All-Century team.
Thompson set NCAA season standards in 1969 for most interception return yards (258), most touchdowns on interceptions (3) and average yards per interception return (51.6). He still holds the latter record 38 years later. Thompson's three interceptions against UTEP in 1970 are the second-most in school history, as are his seven picks during the 1970 season. His 12 career interceptions rank him fifth on the Ute career chart.
Thompson was a first-round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. He led the Cardinals in interceptions four seasons and was the National Football Conference interception yards leader in 1974. He was named All-Pro in 1974 and 1976.
In 1977, Thompson became the first free agent in the NFL when he signed with Baltimore Colts. He played three seasons for the Colts, leading the team in interceptions two of those years.
Since leaving football, Thompson has spent time as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Laney Junior College, and as a defensive backs consultant at the University of California at Berkley. He currently is the owner of "Playing the Position," a training camp for college and high school players.
Norm and his wife Gwendlyn have been married 43 years and are the parents of two boys (Norman Jr. and Nigel) and two daughters (Jacquelyn and Tammy). They also have six grandchildren.
Trepanier earned 13 All-America citations in her career, the third-most ever by a Utah gymnast. She was named a first team All-American nine times from 1992-95.
Trepanier was an All-American on the floor exercise, balance beam, uneven bars and in the all-around. In the process she helped lead Utah to three national team titles. The Utes won the NCAA Championship in 1992, '94 and '95, and finished third in 1993. She clinched the 1994 NCAA title for the Utes as the team's last floor competitor, scoring a 9.90 to give Utah a five-one-hundredths of a point victory over runner-up Alabama in the closest NCAA Gymnastics Championship ever.
She won the team's Diane Ellingson Award in 1994, honoring her as its most inspirational athlete. In 1999, Trepanier was honored as one of Utah's top 25 female athletes of all-time. Trepanier competed at the World University Games in 1991 and'93 and helped the United States to a silver medal both years.
Trepanier has worked for the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee as the Curling Project Manager and presently is a part-time consultant in sports management. She is also a consultant for the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee.
Trepanier holds two degrees from the U., including a master's degree in sport management. Trepanier is an avid runner and skier and has run two marathons. She also rode in the Salt Lake Century 100 Bike Ride. She is also an active volunteer in many community and civic causes. Amy is married to former Ute basketball player Terry Preston. The couple has two sons (Chase and Miles) and a daughter (Alivia).
