L. H. “Ronnie” Thomson, president of the L.H. Thomson Company, died on Sunday. He was 68.

Thomson was born on January 17, 1939, in Byron, Georgia. An entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist, he was best known in cycling circles for the high-end seat posts and stems his company made. The L.H. Thomson Company holds numerous patents on its components, and has sold more than 1 million Thomson-label products.

Thomson grew up on a family farm in Centerville, Georgia. After graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology as an electrical engineer in 1962, he worked for a period at McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis.

Shortly after returning to Centerville, Thomson started Numerical Engineering Machine Company (Nemco) in 1968. Thomson sold Nemco to the Boeing Company in 1980 and was the first president of Boeing Georgia Incorporated.

In 1981, he went back to his entrepreneurial roots, starting the L. H. Thomson Company.

Marketing manager David Parrett said Thomson "demanded the very best from all of us."

"His standards were incredibly high, for himself, for us, for the work we did, and those standards applied to anybody who wanted to do business with us," Parrett added. "Ronnie was tough but at the same time fair, and loyal. I knew I had permission to try and fail, as long
as I got back up, learned from my mistake and tried again. I am a better business person, a
better cyclist and a better father for having known and worked for Ronnie."

Thomson was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Harold and Ruth Barbour Thomson, and his brother, Walter Randall Thomson. Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Margaret Thomson, Byron; son Brian Thomson (Paula), Warner Robins; daughter Amy Holaday (Jason), Snellville, GA; grandchildren Garrett and Avery Thomson, Max and Lucia Holaday; sisters Vivian Long (Darrell), Centerville, and Pamela Maynor (James), Warner Robins; brother Larry Thomson (Christine), Perry. He is also survived by many aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.

A memorial service was held Wednesday at McCullough Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens. A second memorial service will be held Saturday as part of the annual Ronnie Thomson Appreciation Day, which is part of a weekend of music, group rides and racing. For more information, see the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association website.