Wayne County Sheriff Richard “Rick” Thompson, FGHS class of 1970, has been chosen as the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2019 by the Fort Gay High School Alumni Association. The presentation of the award will take place on Friday, August 30, at the association’s annual banquet at the First Baptist Church in Louisa, KY.
Sheriff Thompson has had a long and varied career serving the people of Wayne County and West Virginia in several positions. Rick was a Military Policeman and Game Warden in the US Army, the Chief Park Ranger for the Huntington Park Board, and a Wayne County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. In addition, he has also been Wayne County Divorce Commissioner, General Counsel for the Town of Fort Gay, and General Counsel for Crum and Lavalette Public Service Districts.
Rick’s political career included serving as 17th District Representative in the WV House of Delegates from 1981-1983 and again from 2000-2013. He was Speaker of the House from 2007-2013. He was WV Secretary of Veterans Assistance from 2013-2016, until leaving that position to run for Sheriff of Wayne County. He began his term as sheriff in January 2017, and currently continues in that position.
Sheriff Thompson holds a BA degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall University and a JD degree from the West Virginia University College of Law.
The Fort Gay High School Alumni Association is in its 20th year of giving something back to the community by awarding Marshall University scholarships to students from Tolsia High School, which was formed when Fort Gay and Crum High Schools were closed in 1987. Each year an outstanding FGHS graduate is recognized at the FGHSAA’s annual dinner.
Mary Madsen, Fort Gay High School Alumni Association
Contact: 304-617-1816, msmadsen@comcast.net
August 2, 2019
