Joseph Thompson entered active duty in the U.S. Army from the Pennsylvania National Guard. After the war and his discharge he returned to Beaver Falls and enrolled at Geneva College. He was a star Geneva halfback and became a legend surrounding an infamous “Who tackled Joe Thompson?” episode. It seems in a game with arch rival Washington & Jefferson College, Thompson was in the clear and running for an apparent touchdown when a W&J substitute came off the bench and tackled him. The officials didn’t award him the touchdown and Geneva lost 3-0. He later coached at Geneva and at the University of Pittsburgh. He also was elected to serve in the state Senate for two terms.