Thomas (Tommy) Thompson, an author of articles, books and television scripts on the American West and an associate producer of the Bonanza and Gunsmoke television shows, has died at his Newbury Park home. Thompson, who was 80, died Thursday. Thompson first wrote Western stories for pulp magazines in 1940 after stints as a sailor, a nightclub entertainer, a secretary and a furniture salesman. He later published hundreds of articles in national general-interest magazines and wrote 25 Western novels, including “Range Drifter,” “Shadow of the Butte” and “Bitter Water.” He was a co-founder and president in 1957 of Western Writers of America and later received two of that group’s Spur Awards for his writing. Thompson was a life member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.