Talk to Gary Thompson for a few minutes and three things become obvious. He is loyal, humble and most of all, loves Iowa State.

When Thompson says “I am a Cyclone,” he means it.

Thompson was one of the inaugural members of the Iowa State Athletic Hall of Fame inducted last Friday night.

“I’m hoping I can get through (tonight). It’s an emotional night,” he said. “It is indeed an honor. It’s unbelievable to stand here and be a part of this.”

Thompson, who played baseball and basketball at ISU from 1955-57, was the school’s first two-sport All-American. Thompson also was the first Cyclone to be named Iowa State Athlete of the Year twice.

He was the first Cyclone basketball player to score 1,000 points in a career and was the first to be named as a first-team All-American. He also played on the first Cyclone baseball team to make it to the College World Series.

Yet, after all of these achievements, he remains humble.

“I had a lot of firsts because of great coaching,” Thompson said.

“I learned that honors are results of people you played with, teammates and coaches. It’s important to recognize those who have been responsible for your career,” he said.

Thompson recalled having his jersey retired after the last home game of his basketball career. He was honored for “service given to the university.”

That night Thompson told the crowd, “Iowa State has given me far more than I could give back.”

Despite donating enormous amounts of time and money to the university since his graduation, Thompson said, “That statement still stands.

“I’ve tried to give back. I’ve wanted to give back. Iowa State has been very good to me,” he said.

“The friendships I’ve made here have been terrific,” Thompson said.

Thompson said he is pleased with the current direction of ISU athletics. He gave President Martin Jischke and Athletic Director Gene Smith credit for giving ISU “a chance to succeed.”

He thinks this is the best position ISU has been in to succeed in athletics. “Things have been on the upbeat,” he said.

Thompson said Jischke and Smith had much to do with the idea for the Hall of Fame as well. He said he is “one for tradition” and thinks the hall was “long overdue.” He said he believes it will help current athletes remember those who blazed the trail for them.

He said the strides made in the facilities at ISU since his time are unbelievable. He remembered playing his basketball career in the Armory. When someone bounced the ball, he said dirt would come up between the floor boards.

Presently, Thompson is a successful convenience store and petroleum marketer in Ames and has worked as a color commentator on NBC, ABC, ESPN, the Big Eight Network and the Cyclone Television Network.

So how does he avoid being biased in favor of the Cyclones? “I was brought up well — to be objective. That’s the way I was taught,” Thompson said.

But is it that easy? Thompson smiled and thought about it some more. “Once in awhile a ‘we’ creeps in there,” he said.