Racine Thompson graduated from Beckley's Woodrow Wilson High School in 1960, where he participated in football, wrestling, and track.

He was team captain, regional champion, and the 106 pound West Virginia State Wrestling Champion his senior year.

He later received a B.A. degree from Glenville State College (now University) and an M.A. degree from Marshall University.

After a short stint in Roane County, he took a teaching job in Raleigh County where he became the first, ever, full time elementary physical education instructor.

During the 1970's he officiated college and high school wrestling and served one year as an assistant wrestling coach at Independence High School. He also coached girls and boys basketball at the elementary and high school levels.

After becoming a school administrator he hosted several wrestling tournaments and served on the Board of Trustees for the WVSSAC. He was an administrator at five different high schools in Raleigh County. In 1981, he was inducted into the first class of the Raleigh County Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In 1990, he became assistant superintendent of schools and served as project manager overseeing the construction of six new schools and the renovation of several others, (Including wrestling rooms).

He always stated that, "wrestling contributed to his work ethic and discipline required of him to perform such an important and phenomenal task."

Racine retired after forty-six years of service but continues to support a variety of sports and charitable organizations.

He and his wife, Doris, are the proud parents of Jaime, Jenine and Jennifer and grandparents of Garland, Jacinda, Aiden, Alexis, and Jillian.