Thenault, George Spencer, 2003 July 01

This is a Living History interview with George “Tom” Thenault, class of 1953, conducted by Marilyn Somers on July 1, 2003 at his home in Yarmouth Port (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. The subject is the interviewee’s life, and experiences at Georgia Tech.

Mr. Thenault was born in Washington, D.C. in 1930. His father, Georges Thenault, was a French army officer and commanded the Lafayette Escadrille during World War I. Mr. Thenault’s mother was a Washington, D.C. debutante. His parents married in 1925. Mr. Thenault’s sister was born in 1928.

In 1933, the family moved to France. Mr. Thenault completed most of his schooling there. When Germany invaded France in 1940, Mr. Thenault’s father remained in France while the rest of the family returned to Washington, D.C. For a while, Washington, D.C. became too crowded and the family moved out to Denver, Colorado. Mr. Thenault’s father returned to D.C. shortly after VE Day in May 1945. On VJ Day, the family returned to France. Mr. Thenault’s father died in December of 1948.

Mr. Thenault received a good education in France. He attended the University of Paris for a year then decided he would prefer to attend college in the United States. Georgia Tech was not his first choice, but he chose it because there was a scholarship available there and was highly recommended. He entered Georgia Tech as an aeronautical engineer. He later changed to mechanical engineering because it seemed more fun. He was sponsored by Sigma Alpha Epsilon and later pledged the fraternity. He played the trumpet as part of the SAE House Basement Band. He loved the football games and enjoyed participating in the Ramblin’ Wreck parade. He also took Freddie Lanoue’s class and ROTC.

After graduating, Mr. Thenault got a job with G.E. working on aircraft engines at their Philadelphia plant. Within the next year, he was drafted into the Army. He was assigned to the Chemical Corps during the Korean Conflict. He returned to G.E. after the war. He also took night school at Northeatern University under the G.I. Bill of Rights. In 1960, he received his master’s degree.

During his 40 years at G.E., Mr. Thenault worked on engine development and production. When G.E. joined with Snecma, a French aircraft engine manufacturer, Mr. Thenault served as the design liaison between the French and American engineers. As a result, the Thenaults lived just outside of Paris for 3.5 years, then returned to Lynn, Massachusetts. Mr. Thenault is the only plant manager to be awarded the Truly Warner Award, which is the top engineering award given to engineers at the Lynn plant. Mr. Thenault retired from G.E. in 1993.

Mr. Thenault met his wife Beatrice during a Christmas vacation in Paris, France. When Mr. Thenault began work with G.E. in Philadelphia, he inquired about Beatrice. The two became reacquainted, began courting, and eventually married. The couple has a daughter named Catherine and a son named George. Catherine has three children: Elizabeth, Emily and Spencer. George has four children: Sarah, Margo, Savannah and Tom.