By Gael Coyle
March 1, 2022–Dick’s 45 years in Eugene Delta Rotary have been a wonderful part of his life with excellent associations and friends. He fondly remembers so many people he worked with including Paul Peschera and Jim Wildish and his time as Club President from 1984-1985. Rotary allowed him to meet members of the community and gain support for Boy Scouts throughout his years as Assistant Scout Executive for the Oregon Trail Council.
It was evident that Dick possessed leadership skills at an early age, and he continued to develop them at St Mary’s High School in Medford, Oregon where he was the manager for basketball, baseball, and football teams. While attending Southern Oregon College in Ashland, Oregon he was Student Body President and a member of the tennis team for four years.
Dick’s 35-year career with Boy Scouts included work at the National level. He served on the area show staff of eight National Jamborees. Dick was on the Twelfth National Boy Scout Jamboree Staff in 1989 preparing for President George H.W. Bush’s visit and again in 1997 when President Clinton attended the 14th National Jamboree. Both Jamborees were held in Fort A.P. Hill, VA. Dick held positions including Stage Manager and Director for the area shows.
In 1996, Dick lost his wife, Donna, to Lou Gehrig’s disease. At age of 55, he switched gears and started his own company, Creative Direction DC and Associates. During this 22-year period he produced over 200 events from Seattle to San Diego. Dick produced numerous events for the Umpqua Bank’s Annual Celebration of Excellence. His last hurrah before retiring began with a 1,000 person event at the Convention Center in Portland, a 500 person event two weeks later in Sacramento and concluded one week later with a 600 person event at the Bellevue, Washington Hyatt.
In 2010, Dick married Barbara, a woman he has known for 50 years. They enjoy traveling in their motor home and have put at least 60,000 miles on their newest recreational vehicle. Their travels have taken them through the Midwest, Louisiana, Texas and Canada. Dick’s three sons live in the Eugene area. He has 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and another great grandchild on the way. Looking back over his 83 years, Dick has a had a full productive life.