Dalton, GA — Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA of Georgia) has named W.L. “Tommy” Thompson as their 2026 JA Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame Laureate.
JA of Georgia is proud to host the 20th annual gala and continue the tradition of honoring titans of the northwest Georgia business community. The elegant event will take place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in the Dalton Convention Center.
Worth L. (Tommy) Thompson graduated from the University of Georgia in 1965 and began his career selling construction materials throughout the Southeast before becoming manager of a fuel jobbership in Gwinnett County in 1967. In 1983, he purchased a Phillips 66–branded jobbership in Dalton from Broaderick Oil Company and grew the business, now known as Thompson Energy, to more than $400 million in annual sales before selling the company, including 43 convenience stores and fuel centers, to MAPCO in 2006. Following the sale, Tommy formed Thompson-Kenny with Josh Kenny, acquiring a wholesale fuel dealership in metro Atlanta that has since grown into one of the largest in Georgia, while also continuing to expand his fuel transport business, Spirit Express, which he sold in 2025. In 2018, he and business partner, Jason Denson, purchased Brooker Ford, now Ford of Dalton. Beyond his business success, Tommy has demonstrated longstanding civic leadership, including serving as Chairman of the Gwinnett Hospital Authority in 1980, where he led bond sales to build a new medical center that later became part of Northside Hospital. In 1986, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to secure approval to form Commercial Bank of Gwinnett, which later acquired Commercial Bank of Georgia. Tommy served as Chairman of Energy Marketers of America in 2022, representing petroleum marketers across all 50 states. He also serves on the board of Dalton Utilities, is Vice Chair of the Ross Woods board, Chairman of The Tent Ministries board, and remains active at The Church on the Hill, in addition to serving as past chair of the Georgia Oilman’s Association and multiple oil company advisory boards.
In addition to the formal induction of Thompson, the evening will also honor Anna Adamson & Zack Adamson, both individually, as their 2026 Rising Stars. The 20th JA Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame will welcome guests to a cocktail hour, a seated dinner, followed by a tribute to the ground-breaking programs JA of Georgia is bringing to the Greater Dalton area.
“We are delighted to be recognizing Tommy Thompson and the Adamsons,” said Caroline Frost, Director of Development for JA of Georgia in Northwest Georgia. “Their commitment and generosity have shaped our community for years, and it is especially meaningful to honor them during our 20th anniversary.”
To learn more about the JA Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame, sponsorship opportunities, our laureate, or to purchase a ticket, please visit georgia.ja.org/dalton-hall-of-fame. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the event, please email Caroline Frost at cfrost@georgia.ja.org.