Georgia Loses More than a Labor Commissioner
Bruce Thompson became my friend in 2019. We had met a time or two before that, but we had our sit-down meeting in his office early that session, and he quickly embraced what I was trying to do with my organization.
The next day, I saw him walking the halls of the Capitol and shared that I was having trouble finding a sponsor for one of my bills. After giving him a 15 second explanation, Bruce quickly said, “ok, I’ll do it. Let’s walk over to Legislative Counsel and take care of this right now.”
He knew that bill was going to be a big fight. He didn’t care (well, let’s be honest, he did care, and he liked that it was going to be a big fight). (Then) State Senator Bruce Thompson was completely unafraid to go toe-to-toe with some of the most powerful interests of the Georgia Capitol, and that is often when he was at his best.
That’s why Georgia collectively mourns the loss of someone who was more than just our Labor Commissioner. Bruce Thompson, elected to his position in 2022, passed away on Sunday from pancreatic cancer. We lost a fighter, a leader, and a conservative stalwart. And, I lost a friend.
Bruce had a reputation. He was pugnacious and carried an ever-present chip on his shoulder. Born into rough circumstances in rural Montana, Bruce Thompson earned a wrestling scholarship, served in the US Army National Guard, and became an entrepreneur.
He amassed incredible business success and became well known in his community. In 2013, he was sworn in as State Senator, and, every step of the way, he brought a wrestler’s mentality to politics. He didn’t make life easy on anyone, and the practice of politics for Bruce Thompson was not an elegant one. Frequently, he clashed with colleagues, and he was well aware that he was a “bull in a china shop.”
However, he also won people over with a generous spirit, a sincere Christian faith, and a tireless work ethic. Nobody could question his effort, authenticity, or a genuine desire to serve people. On numerous occasions, temporary enemies would become entrenched allies and supporters.
Of all the causes I knew Bruce to be passionate about, the cause of life was the most dear to him. Few know that he was the original Senate sponsor of what became Georgia’s Heartbeat Law. However, this man, who could at times be brash, eagerly stepped aside to improve the bill’s chances by allowing Senator Renee Unterman to carry it across the finish line.
This selfless act – that cost him notoriety, acclaim, and political clout – is an example to all who value statesmanship.
As the 2022 statewide elections approached, Bruce saw the Labor Department as woefully underperforming. A job nobody wanted, he believed that his bulldog mentality would create a turnaround. For more than a year, he traveled all across Georgia, met voters all across the state, and became known for his trademark yellow logo. He was rewarded by the voters with a resounding victory.
With his boundless energy, few could have forecast a stunning diagnosis of Stage 4 Cancer that he received in March. The prognosis was dire, and most believed he would not last long.
Bruce, however, was committed to fighting. When I saw him in April, he looked incredibly frail and unlike himself. A month or two later, he looked better. And, a month after that, I was privileged to grab lunch with him. We walked to his preferred restaurant near the Capitol, and he spoke optimistically about the future. He had continued plans to reform the Labor Department and goals for how he would continue to serve the people of Georgia. In the midst of a daunting diagnosis, Bruce saw a foe that he was going to wrestle, pin, defeat, and then mock triumphantly.
The Lord had other plans, and he called my friend home.
In the midst of sadness, I am inspired by Bruce’s legacy – by his generous spirit, by his hope, and by his tenacity. He was never going to be defined by circumstances. He was going to overcome and impact. If he saw a problem, he was going to fix it, and he wasn’t going to let procedure, niceties, or political realities get in the way.
Everywhere he went, he proclaimed Jesus, and he was a nonstop, hardworking force. At age 59, he had a desire to do more. His shocking diagnosis and passing serves as a stark reminder that no matter our health, our energy, our talent, or our drive, we are not in control of our own destiny.
We don’t write our story. He does. We don’t know the number of our days. He does. And, nothing, nothing, nothing matters except submission to His will. If I can, on behalf of my friend now in the presence of His maker, urge you to do one thing, it is this: cry out to Jesus.
There is no hope in your natural condition. Your hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. And, that is a mighty hope indeed. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, I urge you, my friend, to reach out to a local pastor and discuss how you – who will never know when you will stand before His throne – can greet him as your Savior and friend when your time comes.
– Cole Muzio
