Born on March 10, 1913, Douglas Thompson was active in many aspects of rural life. He served as a board member with the Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Association for thirty-one years, and was the organization's president from 1964 to 1993. He was also involved with the Assiniboia Agricultural Society and the 4-H club, for which he received medals from Queen Elizabeth. In addition to maintaining his own farm near Vantage, Saskatchewan, he spent time volunteering with youth and the elderly in his community. Thompson was named an honorary life member of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies Association in 1976 and was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1994. He died on August 15, 2003.
Canadian Plains Research Center