The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents has agreed to name the School of Social Work at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa after one of its alumni, Myron "Pinky" Thompson.

At its monthly meeting today at Hawai'i Community College, the board agreed to name the School of Social Work after Thompson because of his lifelong work to improve the health, education and well-being of native Hawaiians.

Thompson, who died in 2001, received his master's in social work from UH in 1953 and worked at the Salvation Army Children's Residential Home and The Queen Liliu'okalani Trust as a executive director and co-founded Alu Like, a nonprofit social service agency dedicated to native Hawaiians. Thompson also was a trustee for Bishop Estate for 20 years.

In support of naming the school after Thompson was his widow, Laura Thompson, U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, Papa Ola Lokahi, the Association of Hawaiian Civci Clubs and the National Association of Social Workers.