Charles "David" Thompson Obituary

Boots Hansen, David Thompson, James Tuppen and Coots Matthews; Fortune Magazine, 1997

Renown oil well firefighter and blowout specialist, David Thompson passed away Saturday evening, April 25, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. He was 73 years old. 

From an intense background in various oilfield service jobs with Shell, Amoco and Best Hughes, David went to work for Boots and Coots, Inc., Houston, Texas, in 1984, under the tutelage of legendary blowout specialists, Boots Hansen (1926-2019) and Coots Matthews (1923-2010). He eventually became a senior well control specialist for the company and played a primary role in the oil well firefighting campaign in Kuwait of 1991. He left Boots & Coots, L.P. when the company was sold in 1997.

David then worked at Wild Well Control in Spring, Texas from 1997 to 1999, joined Cudd Well Control in late 1999 and worked for them until 2009. He finished his long career in the oil and natural gas industry by becoming a pressure control, coil-tubing and frac consultant for Chesapeake Energy and EOG. He retired to Boerne in the Texas Hill County in 2018.

David Thompson was a fearless warrior that went to battle many times, around the world, always to come home safely, the job always finished. He represented his beloved Boots and Coots, Inc. at many speaking engagements, on national television and in documentaries about the well control industry. He was a gregarious soul with a giant smile and endless stories. At Boots and Coots crawfish boils at the office on North Houston Rosslyn Road during Offshore Technology Conference week, David would pick up a guitar, jump right in with the band, in front of hundreds, and sing the night away with Raul Malo songs. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and took great pride in his Cajun heritage and his chicken and sausage gumbo.

David is recognized in a permanent exhibit at the George H. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, for contributions made in Kuwait in 1991.  

Charles David Thompson was born in Oakdale, Louisiana on May 31, 1952, to Roy Dean and Fernie May Davis Thompson. He grew up in Lake Charles, went to La Grange High School, McNeese State University, and served in the United States Army for several years stationed in New Jersey.

He is survived by his lovely wife and best friend, Kim Hall Thompson, son, Luke Thompson and wife, Zoe of Marina Del Rey, California, son Charly Thompson, wife Kristin, grandchildren, Magnolia and Scotty Thompson of Cypress, Texas, Addison Shakade of Laguna Beach, California and David's sister, Mona Armstrong of Boerne, Texas.

The last battle David fought was the only battle he ever lost; God took him peacefully after severe complications related to being hit by a car, as a pedestrian, in downtown Boerne on the afternoon of April 6, 2026.

David Thompson's legacy is that of great love for his family and faith in God, of respect by the well control profession and of gratitude by the worldwide oil and gas industry. 

Several celebrations of David's life are forthcoming, one in Comfort, Texas, another in Houston and will be announced by the family.

David and Kim both believed strongly in the Tunnel for Towers Foundation and ask any contributions made in honor of David's memory be made to it at https://t2t.org/

A message to Kim from the oily sands of Kuwait, 1991

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change things I can, and the wisdom to the know the difference."

"Thy will be done, one step, one day at a time; to God Be the Glory."