David Thompson, 1952 - 2026
For Immediate Press Release
Renown oil well firefighter and blowout specialist, David Thompson, passed away peacefully in a hospital in San Antonio, Texas on the evening of Saturday, April 25, 2026. He was 73 years old.
He died of complications related to being hit by a car, as a pedestrian, in downtown Boerne on the afternoon of April 6, 2026. David had just dropped his wife and best friend, Kim, off to get a pedicure and was exiting his pickup at a clothing store on main street, Boerne. It was a heartbreaking way for David to have gone, given where he had been.
David Thompson began work for Boots and Coots, Inc., Houston, in 1984 under the tutelage of legendary well control specialists, Boots Hansen and Coots Matthews. He eventually became a senior well control specialist with the company, went on hundreds of blowout events around the world, and played a primary role in the firefighting campaign in Kuwait in 1991. He was recognized for that effort at the George H. Bush Presidential Library in 1997 in a permanent exhibit.
David left his beloved Boots and Coots, Inc. in 1997 when the company was sold to the Red Adair Company, joined Wild Well Control until 1999 and eventually Cudd Well Control from 1999 to 2009.
He finished his career in the oil field as a pressure control, coiled tubing and frac consultant with Chesapeake and EOG. He retired to the Texas Hill Country in 2018.
David Thompson was a warrior. He fought and always prevailed in many battles throughout his career and personal life, always to return home to his family and his faith in God. I never saw him waiver, in the worse of conditions; he never quit. He had a heart as big as a 55-gallon drum.
David has the respect and admiration of the worldwide well control profession and the eternal gratitude of the global oil and natural gas industry for what he did throughout his career to prevent waste of hydrocarbons and environmental damage.
The only battle David ever lost, was his last.
He was my friend. We worked together, played hard together, lived a wonderful life together. I am grateful. His entire life was...special.
From the well control community's mutual friend, John Blocker, Jr.,
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
Mike Shellman
I was honored to work with David at CUDD. We both shared a district location that was plagued with rogue raccoons, and how we dreaded Monday mornings and raccoon battles.
I wasn’t a “far fighter”, or even a field hand, I was an office employee that always felt part of his team.
God speed David, you were a gentleman, friend and warrior, and a mighty fine raccoon warrior too. See you on the other side. Peace and love to your family and friends.