Ray W. Thompson (1927-2011) is best remembered for his service as Chief of Police, Public Utilities Director, and City Manager of Portsmouth, Ohio. A native of the city, Thompson attended Portsmouth High School, graduated from Cedarville College, and served in the US Navy during World War II. On the day of the "wade-in" at the Terrace Club in the summer of 1964, Ray Thompson was serving as Acting Police Chief, as Ted Wilburn, the city's black police chief was on vacation. Ultimately, Wilburn returned from vacation to resolve the standoff at the pool, when the protestors refused to exit the water. Wilburn ordered Capt. Thompson and Detective William Combs into swim trunks and into the pool to arrest the protestors.