Take a Bow

Dear Richard,

Boy, I knew you were big on entrances, but your exit on Jan. 11 shocked a bunch of folks. I asked some of them to send me remembrances or thoughts about you. Most were printable in a family newspaper.

They spoke of your sense of humor, your kindness, your infectious laugh. They complimented you on your ability to teach actors how to act and your facility when you were the one on stage in front of the audience.

Each felt as though their lives were enriched in some way for having known you.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the attendance at your funeral, but it had not happened when I wrote these lines for [318 Forum]. If I were to guess, I would suppose that there will have been few open seats when the service began for you at First United Methodist Church. I am sure that Dr. Will Andress conducted a dignified and sober memorial to you filled with many of his own fond memories of your badgering him about doing some play or other.

Speaking of shocked at your exit, I was.

It was just before Christmas that you and I had coffee and solved all the problems of the world and the theater. Well, not really, but we knew that we would the next time we met.

I've included some of the memories folks shared with me about you. Don't let them go to your head. Let me say that I will always miss our talks, arguments and laughs. I think of our relationship as a true love/hate relationship. You loved to tell me my suggestions were wrong, and I hated that I could never tell you no.

We'll see each other again soon enough, but please understand when I say that I'm glad you missed the Cowboys’ Wildcard game.

Your partner in whatever this was, –Joe