W. R. ‘Bill’ Richards
Bill flew
West on Monday, 13 September, 2021. Dad is preceded by his wife Mary, his
sisters Pat Caridad and Bobby Arkis, and his parents, Hector and Clara. My
sister and I would like to use this space to review a career of giving.
As a kid,
Bill worked as a Line Boy at Teterboro, NJ, exchanging his smile for flying
time. When he moved up to work as a mechanic his boss suggested that he pursue
flying as a career. Bill thought the man was nuts: Dad thought he could never
afford it. Yet he persisted. His first logbook entry is almost readable: a J3
Cub, local flight, 30 minutes of time. During this period, he flew everything
from Champs to Taylor Craft to Ercoupes; PT-19’s to Stearmans as he learned his
trade. Then there’s a gap in the logbook. From ’46 to ’52 he appears to go
AWOL. Part of this time is spent in the Army Air Force where he worked as a
decoder at the airbase on Amchitka, Alaska. When he returned home, having
achieved the rank of Sergeant, Dad used the GI bill to get many of his ratings.
We need to thank our grandfather for much of this. Hector Richards had
persuaded Dad to join the military in order to access GI Bill Support. Dad
never graduated from high school prior to joining the service. However, our
Grandpa persuaded that school to give Dad his diploma in absentia.
The logbook
resumes on February 5, 1952 with a local flight in a J3 as Dad resumed flying.
A year later, me made the transition to a professional career. On November 11,
1952, he flew his first flight for Resort Airways in a C46, and was based in
San Antonio TX. Three years later he was hired by United, flying copilot on
DC3’s out of Chicago. That’s where his son Tom was born. The next years are a
blur as Dad pursued his Captaincy, moving first to Seattle (where Cindy was
born), then NY; Miami, back to ORD, then SFO. He was forced to take a medical
retirement in 1979 at the age of 49, flying his last flight as Captain on a
727. It was one hell-of-a-career.
During
early retirement in California, Dad achieved his Associates Degree, then joined
ASRS where he met Cleve Spring. The pair kept in touch for many years. Dad was
also Membership Officer of RUPA. He particularly enjoyed sending out letters,
welcoming newly-appointed retirees. Bill was forever grateful to both ALPA and
UAL for the recognition they gave him upon his forced retirement.
Bill taught
so many people to fly and to love it just as he did. For years he worked with
retired UAL Captain Joe Messina (RIP Joe), teaching kids the fundamentals on an
Aeronca Champ. Along the way, he taught Joe’s son, Joe Messina Jr (retired UAL
Captain) and Alan Ahr (retired Delta Captain). He also taught his son, Tom, to
fly as well as giving his daughter, Cindy, a love of the air. He was the best
teacher, and could land that Champ like a kiss in any weather, on any surface,
in the toughest crosswind.
We’ll miss
our Dad but we take heart in knowing he’s still around, and is happy with our
Mom. Last night at 0103 Eastern Summer Time, he made his final take-off. Along
the way he was diverted by ATC, flying to altitude and there reaching up to
touch the face of God. He reached his destination following a flight in only
Blue Skies, and kissed the ground as he always did on any runway anywhere in
the United States.
Thank you,
Dad. You are one of the most fortunate, forgiving and giving men we’ll ever
know. And we are the luckiest of children because of your gifts. God Bless you.
See you around.
