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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.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 1983.</ref> 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.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 1983.</ref>

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.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 1983.</ref> 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.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 1983.</ref>

A graduate in the school of agriculture at [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], Thompson 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.<ref name=findagrave/> Thompson resided in the parish seat of Colfax.

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.<ref name=findagrave/>

Thompson died in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195036360/ellen-lucille-thompson|title=Ellen Lucille Anderson Thompson|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=August 20, 2020}}</ref>

Thompson resided in Colfax but died in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195036360/ellen-lucille-thompson|title=Ellen Lucille Anderson Thompson|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=August 20, 2020}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lsua.edu/About/Foundation/Scholarships|title=Endowed Scholarships|publisher=lsua.edu|accessdate=July 15, 2011; information no longer on-line}}</ref>  Thompson was also memorialized in death by the naming of the Richard S. Thompson Bridge that connects Rapidesand Grant parishes. The project was approved during Thompson's tenure in the legislature.

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lsua.edu/About/Foundation/Scholarships|title=Endowed Scholarships|publisher=lsua.edu|accessdate=July 15, 2011; information no longer on-line}}</ref>  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]].

The District 22 seat has been held since January 13, 2020, by the Republican [[Gabe Firment]].