BG RICHARD, VIRGIL A. to TAPs

BG Virgil Almos Richard passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2013.  He had been in declining health the last two years.

Virgil Richard was born in Anthony, KS, near the farm in rural Wakita, OK on which his family lived and which his great grandfather homesteaded in the Cherokee Strip Land Rush of September 16, 1893. Virgil was born to the marriage of Virgil E. Richard and Alma Henderson who predecease him.

Virgil received a BS in Accounting from Oklahoma State University, and MBA from George Washington University. He was a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of Columbia University, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. He was also an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate.

Although an accomplished young pianist, he elected not to pursue a career in music and instead spent 32 years in the Army, 30 of which were in the Finance Corps and rose in position to the rank of Brigadier General. Virgil served two tours in Vietnam and retired in 1991 after Operation Desert Storm. His duty brought him and his family to Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, DC, Indianapolis, and Fort Hood, TX. He was the recipient of numerous awards including the Army Distinguished Service Medal and was especially honored to receive the Legion of Merit given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

After retiring at Fort Hood, Virgil was appointed a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Harker Heights, TX until 1997. In 1998, he moved to Austin where he and David created their home and enjoyed countless hours entertaining friends, hosting club meetings, and just relaxing. One of Virgil's strongest traits was his sense of fairness. As a Captain, he hired the best qualified candidate for an Accountant position, an African-American woman, at Ft. Rucker, Alabama in 1965. The women who worked for him were incensed, but he stood his ground. He told the ladies if they did not wish to use the same restroom as their new co-worker, they were free to use the one in the next building. Being a cold February, it only took a few freezing trips to the next building before seeing the wisdom of adapting to change in the workplace. Virgil since believed that she was the first African-America hired for a professional civilian position at Ft. Rucker.

It was fairness that came into play as he joined ranks and became a leader in the effort to end the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the U.S. Armed Forces. He served on the honorary board of the Service members' Legal Defense Network, he lobbied Congress to repeal the policy, and later joined the effort to inform and educate the military chaplaincy of the injustice of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Fortunately, he lived to see its repeal.

Virgil was also active in the Exchange Club of Austin, an organization with a focus on child abuse prevention, scholarship, and patriotism. The Exchange Club produced the Zilker Kite Festival from its inception, and Virgil played a key role as treasurer and was a Board Member for several years. He was a supporter of the Capital City Men's Chorus, served on its Board and, for a time, performed with the chorus as well. He was also a long-time member of the Austin Prime Timers and enjoyed the many friendships he made.

He is survived by his three sons from his marriage to the late Bonnie Raylene Farrar. They are Phillip Richard, his wife Jennifer, their daughters Rachel and Rylie of Union, OH; Michael Richard, his wife Frances and their son Joe of Indianapolis; and Trace Richard, his wife Raylea, their children Angela, Gabe, and Olivia of Beaverton, OR. He is also survived by his sister Barbara and her husband Loyd Cink of Wakita, OK and their children Ashley and Bradley. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews throughout the country. Last but never least; his devoted partner of 16 years, David W. Potter of Austin, also survives him.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening, on Sunday, the 15th of September 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Funeral services will be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 16th of September 2013, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas with the Rev. Paul Dodd officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to one of the following organizations:

1) OutServe/SLDN, P.O. Box 65301, Washington, DC 20035-5301, and please designate "Donation for programmatic work of the Forum on the Military Chaplaincy";

2) The Exchange Club of Austin CAF, c/o Ron Mueller, P.O. Box 41856, Austin, TX 78704;

3) the Capital City Men's Chorus, P.O. Box 50082, Austin, TX 78763.

Condolences may be sent to http://www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/indystar/obituary.aspx?n=virgil-a-richard&pid=166959500&fhid=4296#fbLoggedOut