New A.F. mayor brings talents to office

From photography to Ping-Pong, woodworking to translating French fables, American Fork's new mayor has had a busy retirement.

Taking charge of a city has changed all that.

"My first five days have been quite busy," Heber Thompson said with a laugh during a recent interview.

When he still had spare time, one of his primary enjoyments was translating rhyming French fables.

"I am doing something which I think is unique," he said. "I'm translating Jean de La Fontaine's fables into English using the same rhyming pattern as used by the original author. I've always loved La Fontaine's fables and I just thought I'd see how they translate into English rhyme."

The project has been "very time consuming," he said. "We'll see if it turns out to be a good project. I might try to get it published."

Thompson has a bachelor's degree in French from BYU, which he received after serving an LDS mission in France. He, with his wife, Vicki, later presided over the France, Paris mission from 1993-1996.

Story continued at Daily Herald.