Denver Catholic

BY KARNA SWANSON Superintendent Richard Thompson, 73, will retire in January, after 14 years serv- ing the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic schools. In a letter sent to the princi- pals of the Catholic schools last week, Thompson noted that he has worked for 50 years in edu- cation, most of that time in the ministry of Catholic education. His relationship with Cath- olic schools got off to a rocky start, he revealed in a 2011 in- terview with students from Sts. Peter and Paul School in Wheat Ridge. He told the students that his time spent at St. Mary Catholic School in Cheyenne was short-lived, and that his parents had to enroll him in public school. When he was a junior in high school, however, he had a deep desire for a Catholic education. He convinced his parents to enroll him in the Catholic high school, and he said it "made all the difference in the world." Thompson graduated from Creighton University in 1964 with a degree in English litera- ture and education. He began his career as a teacher, and eventually moved into adminis- tration after earning a master's degree in education adminis- tration from the University of Colorado. His career with Catholic schools began in 1980 when he chose to move from his posi- tion as director of the Business School at Black Hills State Uni- versity, S.D., to serve as prin- cipal of a Catholic high school that was facing fi nancial issues. While in education, he also de- veloped businesses and owned and operated four restaurants, one of which catered the instal- lation of Bishop Charles Cha- put, O.F.M. Cap., in 1988, when he arrived in Rapid City, S.D. The two began to work to- gether in the ministry of Cath- olic schools, and Thompson helped the bishop open a new high school, and then served as superintendent until he left to serve in the Archdiocese of Denver. Thompson arrived in Denver 2001, served as associ- ate superintendent, and in 2004 was asked by Archbishop Cha- put to serve as superintendent. A committee led by Father Randy Dollins, the vicar gener- al and moderator of the curia, will begin a national search for a new superintendent. Both Thompson and the archdio- cese hope the search will be conducted quickly to ensure a smooth transition. "I am grateful to God and to so many people for the grace, guidance and support that have helped me and my faith- fi lled and competent offi ce col- leagues provide vision, support and direction to the schools and parishes in the Church of northern Colorado," Thompson wrote. "This archdiocese also provides witness and has infl u- ence on the national scene, and our school ministry is an im- portant part of that. "Any leader, any superinten- dent, must stand for something and must pursue that with con- viction, while standing on the shoulders of those who preced- ed her or him," he continued. "I have tried to do so, sometimes to the frustration and disagree- ment of others; other times to the satisfaction and gratitude of others. Each day of those 14 years, I have prayed to live and serve in a manner worthy of the call I received." In 2011, he and his wife Judy were inducted into the papal Order of St. Gregory the Great. Thompson has also served on the National Advisory Council for Bishops and the Region VIII Advisory Council for the Small Business Administration. Thompson plans to return to Rapid City, where he and Judy now live. "I look forward to time with Judy and family in increments of more than a few days," he said. "We have daughters on each coast and a son in the mid- dle, so we look forward to seeing the U.S.A., kids, grandkids and friends." Karna Swanson: 303-715-3230; karna.swanson@archden.org; www.twitter.com/KarnaSwanson LOCAL NEWS I 7 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I OCTOBER 15, 2014 Additional 5 % OFF Catholic Register Readers ONLY! Limited Time! This offer not available anywhere else! 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Bleeding Statue Eucharistic Miracle Catholic schools' superintendent to retire DCR FILE PHOTO BY JAMES BACA RICHARD Thompson and his wife Judy are conferred to the papal Order of St. Gregory the Great by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immacu- late Conception Feb. 13, 2011. Church especially re- home- Carmody said. and make well, Wess- simply function of the "well- He sug- demo- modeling po- participating in discourse and leadership, powerful. the pow- We can culture by Carmody 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa

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