OBITUARIES — Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson, owner of Connors Drilling, has died. He was 48.

A native of Portage la Prairie, Man., Thompson graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1972 with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

He began his career as a diamond driller while still a student, and upon graduating rose to management positions at Connors Drilling. He worked at the company headquarters in Kamloops, B.C., and at branch offices in Yellowknife, N.W.T., Edmonton, Alta., and Vancouver, B.C., before purchasing Connors outright in 1982. Under his guidance, the company expanded its operations to include the U.S., Chile, Ecuador and Argentina.

Thompson is survived by wife, Eleanor, son Ross and daughter Erica.