Georgia Labor Commissioner, and My Friend, Bruce Thompson has Passed Away

Multiple sources are telling us this evening that Georgia Labor Commissioner, Bruce Thompson, has lost his battle with cancer.

I first met Bruce Thompson when he decided to seek the 14th Georgia State Senate District to succeed Barry Loudermilk, which would make him my State Senator. He was straight to the point. No pretense. He knew a lot about what he knew, and wasn’t afraid to say he didn’t know about what he didn’t. I instantly liked him.

Originally from Montana, Bruce wasn’t shy about sharing how Christ had changed his life. He knew that his relationship with The Lord meant that he wasn’t perfect, just forgiven. And he regularly expressed his gratitude for the Grace of his Lord and Savior.

He was a devoted husband and loving father. He leaves behind his wife, Becky, and two adult children, Faith and Max. To meet his children is to understand the man, and he was very proud of them both.

In business, Bruce was a serial entrepreneur. He ran businesses that developed software, installed pool covers, and sold insurance among others. It would not be fair to say that he had the Midas touch because all Midas had to do was touch something to make it turn into gold. No, Bruce was successful because he worked hard to make everything he did a success. In fact, this is a favorite photo I have of him when someone was a no-call-no-showed on one of his work sites. He threw on some old clothes in the Georgia heat and went to work.

A couple of years ago Bruce took a bold step and announce that he was going to challenge a Republican incumbent in Georgia’s Department of Labor. Elected Republicans simply do not challenge other elected incumbents. But it was clear that change was needed at that department as COVID had exposed how bad things could get when an important agency isn’t run well. He came into that office with a sense of urgency those who knew him had come to recognize as a key trait of his personality and work ethic.

Earlier this year Bruce announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And he decided to fight with all of the same spirit and determination that had come to define so much about him. And he did it with an up-beat and positive spirit. Not too long ago I texted him to see how he was doing. He responded, “Just rocking and rolling, brother!!! Jesus is in control, and I have a darn good feeling He isn’t done with me yet!”

As I look at the legacy Bruce leaves behind, those whose lives he made better through service to them, his wife, his kids, I think Jesus is going to continue to be working through Bruce Thompson for quite a while yet. No. Jesus isn’t done with you, Bruce. Not by a long shot. Not even now. Because of what He has done through you.

Farewell, my friend. I am better for having known you.