Richard Richards (May 14, 1932 – January 30, 2015) was an American political activist who served as chairman of the

Republican National Committee The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. Political action committee, political committee that assists the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republi ...

from 1981 to 1983. He was active in the Republican party and politics from the late 1960s until the 1980s. He was born in Ogden, Utah. Richards served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

from 1952 until 1955, finishing his service as an officer with the 7th Cavalry Regiment. Before being drafted, Richards had been active in politics, organizing the Junior Republican League while studying at

Weber State College Weber State University (pronounced ) is a public university in Ogden, Utah. It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. History Weber State University was founde ...

in Ogden, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah Law School and was active in the political campaigns of Douglas R. Stringfellow, Laurence J. Burton and Dr. Henry Aldous Dixon, organizing a youth group that helped Dr. Dixon win election to the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

. He later served as a member of the Republican National Committee and chairman of the Utah Republican Party, and was the first state chairman to endorse Ronald Reagan for President in 1976. He resided near Ogden with his wife. Richards was a

Latter-day Saint Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...

. Richards died at his home on January 30, 2015, at the age of 82. The Richard Richards Institute for Ethics at Weber State University is named for him. Weber State University published his autobiography ''Climbing the Political Ladder, One Rung at a Time'' in 2006.Richard Richards, ''Climbing the Political Ladder One Rung at a Time'' (Ogden UT: Weber State University, 2006).

Notes

External links

* 1932 births 2015 deaths American political consultants American Latter Day Saints People from Ogden, Utah United States Army officers University of Utah alumni Utah lawyers Utah Republicans Weber State University alumni 20th-century American lawyers {{Utah-politician-stub

See also

Notes

External links