Born in South Dakota, Richard graduated from A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, S.C., where he was active in the student council and debate club and was voted “most intellectual” by his classmates.
Richard continued his debating activities throughout his four years at Princeton, serving as president of the debate panel his senior year. A 1964 Daily Princetonianarticle by classmate Larry Petrowski reported that in a 28-team collegiate debate tournament in Philadelphia, Richard placed third among all participants. He was also active in Whig-Clio, Concordia Society, and Young Republicans. He majored in economics.
After Princeton Richard studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, earned an MBA at the University of Chicago, and served four years in the Air Force. He then launched a career in real estate and business, serving as head of real estate for Macy’s and later with the Homart Development subsidiary of Sears. He held a pilot’s license and for years flew his own plane.
The class extends its condolences to Richard’s wife, Marcia Banas Welcome; and son, Christopher.