Local man gives millions to autism

Michael Miller

A Newport Beach businessman has given $8.5 million to the University

of Missouri-Columbia to fund a center for autism research.

William Thompson, chief executive officer of the fixed-income

investment-management firm PIMCO, donated the money to fund the

Thompson Family Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Thompson earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the

University of Missouri in 1968.

“The center being created with this gift will bring together

qualified professionals in the field to bring about differences in

the study of and treatment of autism and neurodevelopmental

disorders,” Thompson said.

The gift will create two Thompson-endowed chairs in the School of

Medicine, and also provide funding for five Thompson research

scholars who will pursue interdisciplinary autism research. One

endowed chair is in the Department of Child Health, the other in the

Department of Radiology.

Thompson, who announced the donation along with his wife, Nancy,

said he was motivated in part by family. His daughter, Emily, works

with children with autism at the Speech and Language Connection

clinic in Fountain Valley, while he also has a 21-year-old nephew

with Down Syndrome.

“I’ve had friends [with autism],” Thompson said. “I’ve had people

in my company who have experiences with their kids.”

Among the academic divisions participating in the Thompson Family

Center will be the School of Medicine, the College of Education and

the Truman School of Public Affairs. The gift will also strengthen

the university’s connections with the Missouri Department of Mental

Health and the Department of Health and Senior Services.

“I just feel really lucky that we can help,” Thompson said.