Norbert Thompson
Norbert Thompson, businessman, inventor, and distinguished citizen, moved to Oxford in 1966 with his wife, Margaret and their four children, Vicki, Michelle, Eric, and Marguerite. They rented the historic Old District Parsonage house on Asbury Street on what they believed to be a temporary basis, intending to build a permanent home somewhere else in the community. But Margaret so fell in love with Oxford that she insisted on staying and putting down roots – even when Norbert’s work caused him to be away for extended periods of time. As Norbert’s success grew, they purchased the Old District Parsonage, hired an architect, and undertook extensive restorations of one of Oxford’s cherished landmarks, making it their family home.
Norbert became a successful pioneer of life-saving medical devices, such as the first disposable sterile surgeons’ gloves, sterile polyethylene hypodermic syringes, the pre-packaged sterile Foley catheter, silicone tube implants, and the silicone speaking valve that permits tracheotomy patients to talk. He also aided in the development of Fluothane, a noncombustible anesthesia gas that replaced highly combustible ether in operating rooms and improved the anesthesia delivery system that prevented accidental explosions during surgeries. Norbert also developed elastomer shielding devices to protect radar radomes on airplanes from erosion and degradation due to rain and high speeds.
Norbert remains active in community affairs and has served on the Oxford Tree Board and the committee to rewrite the Oxford City Charter. In addition, Thompson as served as treasurer of the Newton County Trails PATH Foundation and the United Way Committee for Newton County.
Norbert remains active in community affairs and has served on the Oxford Tree Board and the committee to rewrite the Oxford City Charter. In addition, Thompson as served as treasurer of the Newton County Trails PATH Foundation and the United Way Committee for Newton County.