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Thompson’s Appliance is a family-owned business since 1971 that started in Jerry Thompson’s
garage in Richland Hills, Texas as an appliance repair service company. With his wife, Diann,
providing secretarial help in her office (the kitchen) while raising their four young children.
Integrity, competence, and dependability were the standards on which Jerry Thompson built
his business. The patriarch of the family took considerable pride in his craft as an appliance
repairman as his loyal customer base continued to increase.
Originally a homegrown endeavor, Thompson's Appliance started as an appliance repair
service but quickly grew so that the husband and wife team were able to open a storefront,
hire a technician and a secretary.
Diann Thompson recalled the early days when she and her husband began building their
business. "I was the office personnel," Diann Thompson said, "taking service calls and doing
the bookkeeping. We had four children between the ages of 4 to 11 who made it quite a
challenge. We were blessed to be able to rent a building and hire a technician and a secretary
within the first year." Diann Thompson proudly proclaimed "Both of my sons went on service
calls with their Dad from the beginning." All four of my children work in the business one way
or another," she continued. "It's a family oriented business - it reflects on us directly."
Part of the business success stems from Jerry Thompson's vision of providing customers with
services that stand out above others. "The service industry has a reputation for not getting
there when they say they will or giving vague time frames." she explained. "Jerry routed his
calls by area, therefore he knew which was going to be the first or the last call ... that is
something we passed on to the customers -- giving them an approximate window of when the
repairman would be in their home."
Jerry Thompson left nothing to chance, Diann Thompson recalled. "He went over every
service ticket with his repairmen and made sure all the t's were crossed and the i's were
dotted" Diann Thompson explained.
In 1975, Thompson's Appliance moved to Arlington from Richland Hills when they purchased a
building on Pioneer Parkway. Jerry Thompson had added part sales and had three service
technicians at this time. In 1976, Thompson's Appliance began selling appliances to the
building industry. In 1984, the Thompson's enlarged their business once again to include
appliance sales in their current storefront on South Cooper. Maintaining a large enough
inventory to deliver within 24 hours a reality required the building of a warehouse and
acquiring a fleet of delivery vehicles.
On April 29, 2000 Jerry went home to be with his Lord after a long and courageous battle with
cancer. Today his children, Eddie Thompson, Craig Thompson, DeAnn Carlisle and Trisha
Lantrip continue to carry on their father's legacy - steadfastly committed to the standards they
learned through his example. Even the grandchildren lend a hand from time to time.
In addition to adhering to the patriarch's work ethics, Thompson's Appliance continues to
keep his focus regarding the community. Jerry Thompson supported the Arlington Life Shelter
as a volunteer and never lost sight of community service. He always felt so blessed by God in
the success of the business and felt it was very important to give back to the community.
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