Richard S. Thompson
| Richard Samuel Thompson | |
| In office 1972–1984 | |
| Preceded by | At-large membership: T. C. Brister |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Thomas "Bud" Brady |
| Born | December 30, 1916 Place of birth missing |
| Died | December 28, 1997 (aged 80) Alexandria, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Colfax Cemetery in Colfax, Grant Parish |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Lucille Anderson Thompson |
| Children | Barbara T. Brown Ellen Gayle Anderson |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Richard Samuel Thompson (December 30, 1916 – December 28, 1997)[1] was from 1972 to 1984 a Democratic state representative for District 22, which now includes Grant, LaSalle, Winn, and Rapides parishes in north Louisiana.[2]
Thompson was the first person to hold the District 22 seat, which was created following redistricting based on the 1970 census. The previous configuration had included Grant Parish in a multi-member district with four representatives. Thompson served during the first two administrations of Governor Edwin Edwards and Edwards's first successor, Republican David C. Treen.[2] Along with his service in the Legislature, Thompson was a delegate in 1973 to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention held in the capitol in Baton Rouge.
In the nonpartisan blanket primary on November 1, 1975, the first held in Louisiana history with the abolition of the closed primary system, Thompson defeated a challenge from former state Senator] W. L. Rambo, a member by marriage of the Long family from Georgetown in Grant Parish.[3] Before he was a state senator, Rambo had held the Grant Parish House seat from 1952 to 1960.[2]
Thompson was unseated in the 1983 primary by Thomas Floyd "Bud" Brady (1938-2011) of La Salle Parish. Also in the primary race was former state representative and state senator W. L. Rambo. Brady led the primary field with 6,424 votes (36 percent); Rambo followed with 5,185 ballots (29.1 percent). Thompson garnered 4,960 votes (27.8 percent). The remaining 1,276 votes went to Darrel Thaxton, another Democrat.[4] Brady then prevailed by 207 votes in the runoff election against Rambo, 7,301 (50.7 percent) to 7,094 (49.3 percent). Without his strong showing in his own LaSalle Parish, Brady would have been defeated.[5]
Thompson received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He was a farmer of cotton, soybeans, cattle, hay, and pecan trees. He also served as chairman of the Grant Parish Soil and Water Conservation District. He received the "Master Farm Family" award in 1960. In 1968, he was named as "Man of the Year" for Louisiana agriculture.[1]
Thompson resided in Colfax but died in Alexandria two days before his 81st birthday. He and his wife, the former Ellen Lucille Anderson (1918-2018), had two daughters, Barbara T. Brown and her husband, Daniel Wallace "Dan" Brown (born 1941) of Colfax, and Ellen Gayle Anderson and her husband, Paul J. Anderson, Sr., of Baton Rouge. The Thompsons had nine grandchildren.[6]
He is remembered through the Richard S. Thompson Memorial Scholarship given to a Christian student from Grant Parish studying at the Louisiana State University campus in Alexandria.[7] Thompson was also memorialized in death by the naming of the Richard S. Thompson Bridge that connects Rapides and Grant parishes. The project was approved during Thompson's legislative tenure.
The District 22 seat has been held since January 13, 2020, by the Republican Gabe Firment.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Richard S. Thompson. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on August 20, 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024. Louisiana House of Representatives. Retrieved on August 20, 2020.
- ↑ Alexandria Town Talk, November 2, 1975.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 1983.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 1983.
- ↑ Ellen Lucille Anderson Thompson. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on August 20, 2020.
- ↑ Endowed Scholarships. lsua.edu. Retrieved on July 15, 2011; information no longer on-line.