Changes

In addition to his own Richland Parish, Thompson's House district included all or portions of East Carroll, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, and West Carroll parishes in northeast Louisiana. His Senate district included all or parts parts of Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Ouachita, Richland, and Tensas parishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.la.gov/senators/senpage.asp?SenID=34|title=Senator Francis C. Thompson|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

In addition to his own Richland Parish, Thompson's House district included all or portions of East Carroll, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, and West Carroll parishes in northeast Louisiana. His Senate district included all or parts parts of Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Ouachita, Richland, and Tensas parishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.la.gov/senators/senpage.asp?SenID=34|title=Senator Francis C. Thompson|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

Now term-limited in the state Senate, Thompson is unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary on October 12, 2019, to return to his former District 19 state House seat. He will hence return to the House in 2020 after twelve years in the Senate. The primary includes the race for [[governor]], in which incumbent Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] faces a divided Republican field, including [[U.S. Representative]] [[Ralph Abraham]], from Thompson's own Richland Parish, and [[Eddie Rispone]], a [[Baton Rouge]] businessman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/candidateinquiry|title=Candidate Inquiry (Richland Parish)||publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=August 9, 2019}}</ref>

Now term-limited in the state Senate, Thompson is unopposed in the nonpartisan blanket primary on October 12, 2019, to return to his former District 19 state House seat. He will hence return to the House in 2020 after twelve years in the Senate. The primary includes the race for [[governor]], in which incumbent Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] faces a divided Republican field, including [[U.S. Representative]] [[Ralph Abraham]], from Thompson's own Richland Parish, and [[Eddie Rispone]], a [[Baton Rouge]] businessman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/candidateinquiry|title=Candidate Inquiry (Richland Parish)|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=August 9, 2019}}</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Thompson graduated from Delhi High School in 1959. He received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish. He also procured an Ed.D. degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana University). Thompson was a teacher from 1963-1965, but he vacated the classroom to become vice president of a manufacturing company from 1965-1972. Later, he returned to the classroom as a ULM assistant professor of education.

Thompson graduated from Delhi High School in 1959. He received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish. He also procured an Ed.D. degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana University). Thompson was a teacher from 1963–1965, but he vacated the classroom to become vice president of a manufacturing company from 1965–1972. Later, he returned to the classroom as a ULM assistant professor of education.

From 1968 to 1975, Thompson was an elected member of the Richland Parish School Board. He won a special election in 1975 to fill the House seat vacated by the resignation of Democrat Benny Gay Christian (1925-1982),<ref>"Social Security Death Index". ssdi.rootsweb.com. Retrieved January 2, 2010; now under pay wall.</ref> who had served in the state House since 1964. Later in the year, Thompson won a full term in the seat, which in time became the single-member District 19. Prior to his legislative years, Thompson worked in Baton Rouge for the Louisiana Department of Education under Superintendent [[Louis J. Michot]] from 1974 to 1975. He was a member of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement from 1973 to 1974. Thompson has also been a member of the Southern Regional Education Board and the Education Commission of the States. He has been active in the Retarded Children's Association and the Louisiana Mental Health Drug Advisory Council. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Lions International.

From 1968 to 1975, Thompson was an elected member of the Richland Parish School Board. He won a special election in 1975 to fill the House seat vacated by the resignation of Democrat Benny Gay Christian (1925-1982),<ref>"Social Security Death Index". ssdi.rootsweb.com. Retrieved January 2, 2010; now under pay wall.</ref> who had served in the state House since 1964. Later in the year, Thompson won a full term in the seat, which in time became the single-member District 19. Prior to his legislative years, Thompson worked in Baton Rouge for the Louisiana Department of Education under Superintendent [[Louis J. Michot]] from 1974 to 1975. He was a member of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement from 1973 to 1974. Thompson has also been a member of the Southern Regional Education Board and the Education Commission of the States. He has been active in the Retarded Children's Association and the Louisiana Mental Health Drug Advisory Council. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Lions International.