Richard T. Sparks ’57

Dick died Sept. 17, 2011. His home was Lynchburg, Va.

At Princeton, he majored in civil engineering, joined Cap and Gown, and played football. He was active in the Undergraduate Schools Committee. His senior-year roommates were Bob Kent, Rusty Melges, Mike Stewart, Jack Snell, and Elliott Otis. He was awarded the San Francisco Railway–Clark Hungerford ’72 Scholarship, a full four-year scholarship to Princeton.

Upon graduating, Dick worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone. In 1959 he served a tour of duty for Uncle Sam. He also earned an M.B.A. from the University of Oklahoma. He continued with AT&T/Southwestern Bell for 30 years, rising to vice president of personnel and playing a key role in the divestiture of AT&T.

He cared for others as a deacon in church, and was active in Princeton affairs, Rotary Club, and the Republican Party. He was a board member of the Urban League of Morris County, N.J., The Morris Museum, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg. He loved family, politics, finance, the Merlot Group, and his dog Skipper.

After his wife of 44 years, Alice, died, Dick married Carolyn, who survives him as do his children, Lea, Richard, and John; six grandchildren; two stepchildren; and five step-grandchildren. To them all, the class extends condolences.