May 2003

University to present
four honorary doctorates
Four Montanans will receive honorary
doctorate degrees from The University of Montana on May 17 during the school's 106th commencement ceremonies.

Raymon F. Thompson of Kalispell and Ian Davidson of Great Falls will receive honorary doctorate degrees in business administration. Nancy Preston Davidson of Great Falls will be presented with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from the Davidson Honors College. And Margie M. Thompson of Butte will be bestowed an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Education.

Raymon Thompson grew up in Kalispell and is the founder and chairman of the board of Semitool Inc. -- a leading semiconductor equipment designer and manufacturer. The company's headquarters and manufacturing facilities are based in Kalispell, where it is one of the biggest employers in the Flathead Valley with a staff of about 1,100.

Thompson earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from West Coast University in Orange, Calif. He worked in the engineering field in California for 16 years before relocating Semitool to Kalispell in 1979.

Thompson was named Small Businessman of the Year in 1983 by the Montana State Chamber of Commerce and Montana Entrepreneur of the Year in 1992. He was the Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Success Award winner for Montana in 1998.

Ian Davidson is the president and chief executive officer of D.A. Davidson Co., one of Montana's leading investment firms.

A Great Falls native, Davidson earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from UM and a master's degree in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

Davidson and his wife, Nancy, have been longtime supporters and benefactors of UM. The Davidsons' contributions to UM include a donation of more than $1 million to build the Davidson Honors College, which bears their name.

Davidson received a UM Distinguished Alumni Award in 1980 and was the recipient of the Neil S. Bucklew Presidential Service Award in 1988. He has served on a number of civic, educational and philanthropic boards and organizations in Montana.
Nancy Preston Davidson earned a bachelor of arts degree in biological sciences from UM. She worked for a time as a teacher and researcher specializing in medical studies. She currently serves as chair of the board of the McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls.

Nancy Davidson has served on a number of UM advisory boards and committees. She served as co-chair of the successful Montana University System 1988 Mill Levy Campaign, chaired the UM Foundation Board and was an influential member of the Davidson Honors College Advisory Council.

She also has been an active civic leader in Montana, working with a number of education-oriented organizations. Her service included stints as chair of the Great Falls School Board and chair of the Great Falls Education Foundation. Nancy Davidson also is a past recipient, along with her husband Ian, of UM's Community Service Award.

Margie Thompson is a successful Butte businesswoman who recently completed a seven-year term on the state Board of Regents. She served as chair of the board for the final three years of her term.

Margie Thompson is the vice president of Thompson Distributing -- a Butte-based beverage distribution company. She attended the College of Great Falls, studying psychology, and Billings Business College, studying business.

Margie Thompson has been a member of a number of civic boards in Butte and the state of Montana. Her community service contributions have been recognized by organizations such as the Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA and Montana Tech of UM.

University Relations | Cary Shimek, Editor
The University of Montana-Missoula
32 Campus Drive | Missoula, MT 59812
phone (406) 243-2522 | fax (406) 243-4520
© 2004 The University of Montana