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 Richard P. “Dick” Richards, the 117th president of Texas Press Association, died April 7 in Houston. He was 74.
Richards has been a member of the association since 1963 and served as director, treasurer and vice president before being elected president.
He was president of South Texas Press Association (1972-73) and served as a director of Texas Gulf Coast Press Association.
Richards started in the newspaper business selling newspapers door to door in the early 1940s. He eventually worked in the backshop of the Aransas Pass Progress casting mats, sweeping floors and running the old flatbed press and folder.
His father, “Scoop,” ran the newspapers before him. As the business grew in 1973 the family acquired the Ingleside Index. When Richards was elected president of TPA, Scoop received the Golden 50 Award at the same convention.
Richards grew up in Ingleside. He graduated from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M at Kingsville) and immediately volunteered for the U.S. Navy. Richards was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Shangri La, on which he served as EOD officer and G Division officer.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sally; daughter Erin Keating; daughter and son-in-law Leslie and Tom Blaine; and four grandchildren, Patrick and Lauren Keating and Tucker and Walker Blaine.
A memorial service will be held April 11 at 2 p.m. at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Aransas Pass.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Houston Area Parkinson Society, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Suite 296, Houston, TX 77098 or Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-4123 or the charity of your choice. |