Have you ever been introduced to someone you immediately liked? Someone whose presence, calming voice and demeanor put you at ease. Someone whom you knew was brilliant, but was gracious enough to make you feel important. That is how I felt when I first met Rich in 1988. Rich grew up in rural southwest Virginia, a place very similar to where I grew up in rural middle Tennessee. Both our fathers died very young; his from diabetes and mine from heart disease. We immediately became friends.
Rich worked hard growing up, put himself through college and earned a masters degree in statistics from The Johns Hopkins University. If you were fortunate enough to know Rich, you knew how brilliant he was. When he said something, you listened. I was in dozens of meetings with him over the years and on many occasions he would absolutely stun me with his intellect. It was humbling.
Rich was fifteen years older than me and to say that he was a father figure would be an understatement. I would have done anything to please him. Occasionally when I did not please him, he would scold me about the virtues of being prepared, of being timely, and more importantly of being right. He expected perfection and I would have walk to the end of the Earth to provide it. He took me under his wing and mentored me for several years. His mentoring was the highlight of my career.
Rich was a man of uncompromising character and principle, of honesty and integrity, of loyalty and determination, of wit and wisdom, of pride and patriotism. He was a friend you always wanted and a mentor you waited your entire life to meet.
Rich passed away nine years ago today.