Who We Are


Family Owned Since 1953

R.D. Thompson Paper Products Company, Inc. was established by Mr. R. D. Thompson in what he referred to as “the first building south of Loudonville junk yard.” That building was a chicken coop, and it was where he built his first file folder machine in early 1953. He later recalled, “During the winter months, my wife and I had to wear gloves and boots while at work to keep warm. It wasn’t the most modern building in the world.”

In March of 1954, Thompson Paper began publishing the Loudonville Shopper, a free publication intended to “keep the people of the Mohican Park Area informed where they can shop best.”



In 1955, Mr. Thompson moved the business to a larger location on North Jefferson Street in Loudonville. It remained there for ten years, producing 150,000 Ponderosa Brand folders a day and employing six people. At that time, the company also designed and manufactured file folder machines for other businesses as well as their own.

Hoping to double file folder production, Mr. Thompson moved operations to a larger facility in 1965. The building was four times larger than the Jefferson street building. It was a big step toward an expanded operation with more employees. The “new” facility on Madison Street in Loudonville is still home to Thompson Paper today.

The village of Loudonville is centrally located between Cleveland and Columbus in Ashland County, Ohio, and is within minutes of Mohican State Park, Mohican-Memorial State Forest, and Malabar Farm State Park. It is well know for its canoe liveries, camping areas, natural beauty, and small town atmosphere. In fact, Mr. Thompson said, “Loudonville is a good community in which to live and raise a family, and it’s where we intend to stay.”

R.D. Thompson did stay in Loudonville, and he did raise a family. He and his wife, Eleanor, had three children – Bob, Tom, and Sherri. Each of the children took part in the business over the years. Today, Tom (President) and his sons, Erik (VP of Operations) and Ryan drive the leadership that directs the family business.

Today, R.D. Thompson Paper Products Company has grown to include nearly 30 local employees who work together to achieve success. We also work collaboratively with other local businesses, including PV Communications and Finishing Services, Inc.



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