The University of Hawaii Board of Regents approved naming the School of Social Work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa after the late Myron “;Pinky”; Thompson.

The regents met last week in Hilo and also approved naming space in Bilger Hall as the W.M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry in recognition of a $1.2 million grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation.

The regents also approved the establishment of a faculty fellowship in the UH-Manoa Shidler College of Business named the Hon Kau and Alice Lee Endowed Faculty Fellowship. The UH Foundation has received a pledge for a gift totaling $125,000 from alumna Shirley M. Lee for the fellowship in the Shidler College of Business named in honor of her parents, which will be matched by Shidler's Matching Gift Funds for a total of $250,000.

Thompson was a 1953 graduate of the School of Social Work and retired as a Bishop Estate trustee. He died in 2001.

Thompson was also executive director of the Queen Liliuokalani Trust and served in Gov. John Burns' administration as executive director of the Department of Social Services.

Thompson also co-founded Alu Like, a nonprofit social service agency dedicated to native Hawaiians.

“;It is truly an honor for our school to share his name and to be able to identify with such an extraordinary citizen of Hawaii who was a champion of social justice and the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture,”; said School of Social Work Dean Jon Matsuoka in a news release. “;Mr. Thompson was a highly principled, wise and compassionate person who continues to inspire those who knew him and whose legacy will inspire generations to follow.”;