John Thompson, 77; Led Family Firm 7-Eleven’s Nationwide Expansion

John Philip Thompson, 77, who expanded his family’s business into the nationwide 7-Eleven chain, died Tuesday of brain cancer in Dallas.

Thompson held top positions in Southland Corp. -- now 7-Eleven Inc. -- for more than 30 years after being named president and chief executive at age 35.

He was a community leader and philanthropist in Dallas who made Southland the largest contributor to the Muscular Dystrophy Assn., raising $81.5 million.

Thompson’s father, Joe C. Thompson, began the company and had built it into about 400 stores by the 1950s.

The younger Thompson was born in Dallas and earned a bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Texas. After serving in the Navy toward the end of World War II, Thompson joined his father’s company.

He was named president and chief executive in 1961. He became chairman of the board in 1969, and retired in 1996.

Thompson was at the helm of the company during its expansion. But he was also in charge in 1990, when the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.