ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fatherhood is his greatest calling.
Kenneth D. Thompson Sr. is an author, fatherhood advocate, and public servant from Austin, Texas. The second-oldest of his mother's seven children, he grew up without the father he needed — and made a lifelong decision to become the one his own son would never have to wonder about.
Over decades of service, he turned that decision into a mission: showing up for fathers, families, and community — in schools, in courtrooms, in prisons, and on the national stage.
THE JOURNEY
A life of firsts, come full circle.
THE BEGINNING
An ache where a father should have been
Second-oldest of his mother's seven children — missing his father from the stands during state finals, and from the quiet moments at home.
AGE 19
Married to his high school sweetheart, Alisha
Fatherhood arrives with Kenneth Jr. — the relationship that would shape every step of his journey.
TWO DECADES
Leading the East Austin Youth Foundation
Entrusted by his own childhood coaches, he shaped generations of young people and uplifted an entire community.
A FIRST
First Black person elected to public office in Pflugerville
President of the PfISD Board of Trustees — serving with humility, courage, and steadfast conviction.
ANOTHER FIRST
Texas DFPS's first-ever fatherhood program specialist
Advocating for fathers inside Texas prisons and courtrooms, and on national and city commissions.
2026
Full Circles
The memoir — becoming the father he once longed for, while guiding his own son with intention, love, and accountability.
SELECTED SERVICE & LEADERSHIP
First-ever fatherhood program specialist, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
First Black person elected to public office in Pflugerville — PfISD board president
Influenced the naming of two schools after African Americans — Fanny Mae Caldwell Elementary and Wilhelmina Delco Primary
City of Austin District One Arts Commissioner
Vice president, Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members
Director, East Austin Youth Foundation and the All-American Mentoring Project
Board chair, A New Entry LLC — counseling and transitional housing for formerly incarcerated men
Chairman of the board, The Overton Group — multilingual education in Head Start
Board member, Building Promise USA — reentry for formerly incarcerated men and women
Vice-chair, Austin Disproportionality and Disparity Advisory Committee
Co-chair, Austin-Travis County Reentry Roundtable · national advisory board on non-resident fathers
Host of The Dad-Show and featured facilitator for “Focus on Fathers”
B.A.A.S. in Applied Arts & Sciences, Texas State University — Magna Cum Laude
Certified in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion — University of South Florida
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Keynotes, fatherhood workshops, and author talks for schools, agencies, and conferences.
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