Newsroom

By Alex Branch

After more than 11 years of serving charbroiled steak burgers to a hungry Health Science Center, Mac Thompson is hanging up his red apron.

Thompson will retire from Fun on the Bun this month.

Beloved for his warm, gentle humor, Thompson is a fixture on the first floor of Gibson D. Lewis Library at UNT Health Science Center. Students filled a 2016 social media post about Thompson with comments about his impact on them.

“Mac is the brightest part of my experience with UNTHSC. My friend and confidant, he makes an effort to connect with us students,” Alexandra Garcia wrote.

“Mac was always so nice and greeted me with a smile. He’s a UNTHSC staple!” Kelly Gillespie wrote.

Thompson took a break setting up the food stand one morning to reflect on his time at UNTHSC. Eyeglasses dangling from his shirt collar, he clasped his hands and smiled.

“I’ve had the blessing of meeting a lot of wonderful people here,” Thompson said. “They are family to me, and I really mean that. I’ll miss seeing them every day.”

Thompson credits students with making him feel young.

“I’ve met students from all over the world here,” he said. “They tell me about their countries – the mountains, the forest, the food – and I feel like they took me on a trip there. I just love it.”

One student performs magic tricks for Thompson while he waits for his food at Fun on the Bun. Another student belted out a song after Thompson mentioned the student had a great voice.

“They brighten my day, and I try to brighten theirs,” he said.

So what’s next? He’ll get the cataracts removed and be able to spend more time with his wife Juanita. They have been married for 52 years.

Then he wants to take a vacation.

“You know, when I was a kid I put together this big wooden puzzle of the United States,” he said. “I was always interested in Maine, just because it was the farthest one up there.

“So I want to visit Maine. Maybe get a quiet bed and breakfast for a week and eat lobster and crab cakes. That sounds like a lot of fun.”

• Share
• Tweet