Son of T.J. & Mabel Thompson. He had two brothers, John, Lincoln, NE and Theos, Winchester, MA, both of whom predeceased him. He graduated from Jackson High (now Lincoln Northeast) in 1941. While in high school, he earned eight varsity letters in football, basketball, track and baseball. He enrolled in the University of Nebraska in 1942, and was a quarterback on the football team. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In July of 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was assigned to the V-12 Officer Candidate School at Doane College in Crete, NE, where he also played quarterback for the Doane football team. After graduating from the V-12 program, he volunteered for a newly-formed Navy commando unit know as the "Scouts and Raiders". He was sent to Columbia University in New York City where he was taught the Mandarin dialect of the Chinese language. While at Columbia, he was awarded the Admiral's Sword as the outstanding Midshipman for his class. He was then sent to Fort Pierce, FL where he received training in underwater demolition, weapons and commando tactics. Following his training in Florida, he was shipped to the China, Burma, India theater where "S&R" units conducted reconnaissance, trained the Nationalist Chinese in guerilla tactics, conducted sabotage and demolished bridges, cut railroad lines and disrupted river traffic. To accomplish their mission, S&R units, which usually consisted of eight person teams, spent weeks at a time in the remote rain forest jungles of the region. Following his deployment to China and after VJ Day, he was sent to Marquette University where he finished his enlistment as its athletic officer and taught judo. He was honorably discharged in June of 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant, jg. He served eight years in the Naval Reserves. Upon his discharge, he returned to the University of Nebraska and resumed his football career as a quarterback. He played for two additional seasons in 1946 and 1947. He was a team captain and was president of the "N" Club. He graduated with dual majors in math and chemistry. On December 18, 1948, he married Margaret (Wylene) Walker originally of Corvalis, Oregon. They were married for 44 years. Wylene predeceased him in 1992. Following graduation from the University of Nebraska, he took a job teaching science and math at Scottsbluff High School where he also coached basketball. His teams had a two-year record of 35-6 and appeared in the 1950 Class A state championship game where they were defeated by his alma mater, Lincoln Northeast. In 1951, he moved to North Platte where he operated a Russell's Sporting Goods Store for several years. He then went to work as a salesman for Balfour and Taylor Publishing, companies for whom he worked until his retirement. He was also engaged in ranching. He officiated high school football for 43 years and refereed the first Shrine All-Star game in 1959. He officiated football in the Big Eight for six years. He was a starter for the girls state track meet and then the combined girls and boys state track meet for 17 years. In 2001, he was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a longtime member and officer of the North Platte Lions Club. He appeared in a number of Community Playhouse musicals and plays. Richard was elected to and served on the Mid Plains Community College board for several terms. He was active in the Episcopal Church, Ducks Unlimited and delivered "Meals on Wheels". He helped organize the Buffalo Bill/NebraskaLand Days Parade for many years. He is survived by three sons Bill (Vicki), Kimball, SD, Tim (Mary), North Platte, NE, and Jack, Lincoln, NE; daughter, Susan Budler (Tom) predeceased him in 1984. There are seven grandchildren Dan, Mapleton, IA, Sally Van Houten (Tyler) Manson, IA, Doug, Tom and Kate Kimball, SD, Will and Kelly, North Platte, NE.