Carl
(Chuck) Hazard Richardson, Jr. Born November 23, 1946 in
Newport, Rhode Island, the son of Carl H. & Ethel Twigg Chuck Richardson,
grew up in Elkhart, Indiana where he was an All-American Linebacker for the 1963
football state champion Elkhart High School Blueblazers. Heavily recruited by
most major universities around the country, he chose to apply for and won an appointment
to attend the Air Force Academy where he starred on its football team until a
knee injury ended his playing career, his junior year. After
flight training he commanded aircraft while serving in the Viet Nam conflict where
he developed skills as a short takeoff and landing expert in order to deliver
troops and supplies in tight and treacherous terrain, under combat conditions.
While in country, he was selected to serve as a General’s Aide, a high honor
usually given to officers having a potential for career senior leadership. Chuck
was selected to pilot the Apollo 14 astronauts, still in their isolation lab,
to the Houston Space Center following their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, in
1971. Looking for change, Chuck left the service in 1973
and sought a career in the business world where he studied and became certified,
usually scoring perfect scores, in several fields involving insurance, tax and
financial planning. Among many other honors was the Air
Force Academy dinner that recognized Chuck as the “Outstanding Admissions
Liaison Officer of the Nation, 1984”. Always in superb physical condition,
Chuck became devoted to swing dancing to which he diligently applied himself and,
in a few short years, developed a solid ability and skills which he shared with
many others as a friend, partner and quiet teacher. His
positive attitude, high standards and supportive demeanor impressed and inspired
those he met who will miss his exemplary strengths and caring example. Chuck is
survived by his sister, Carolyn A. Davis, his niece, Monica E. Metz, nephews,
Troy Carl Davis and Eric Dwight Davis and the woman he intended to marry, Gail
Profitt. Chuck Richardson passed away at 3:30 a.m. this morning.
Carl
(Chuck) Hazard Richardson, Jr. Born November 23, 1946 in
Newport, Rhode Island, the son of Carl H. & Ethel Twigg Chuck Richardson,
grew up in Elkhart, Indiana where he was an All-American Linebacker for the 1963
football state champion Elkhart High School Blueblazers. Heavily recruited by
most major universities around the country, he chose to apply for and won an appointment
to attend the Air Force Academy where he starred on its football team until a
knee injury ended his playing career, his junior year. After
flight training he commanded aircraft while serving in the Viet Nam conflict where
he developed skills as a short takeoff and landing expert in order to deliver
troops and supplies in tight and treacherous terrain, under combat conditions.
While in country, he was selected to serve as a General’s Aide, a high honor
usually given to officers having a potential for career senior leadership. Chuck
was selected to pilot the Apollo 14 astronauts, still in their isolation lab,
to the Houston Space Center following their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, in
1971. Looking for change, Chuck left the service in 1973
and sought a career in the business world where he studied and became certified,
usually scoring perfect scores, in several fields involving insurance, tax and
financial planning. Among many other honors was the Air
Force Academy dinner that recognized Chuck as the “Outstanding Admissions
Liaison Officer of the Nation, 1984”. Always in superb physical condition,
Chuck became devoted to swing dancing to which he diligently applied himself and,
in a few short years, developed a solid ability and skills which he shared with
many others as a friend, partner and quiet teacher. His
positive attitude, high standards and supportive demeanor impressed and inspired
those he met who will miss his exemplary strengths and caring example. Chuck is
survived by his sister, Carolyn A. Davis, his niece, Monica E. Metz, nephews,
Troy Carl Davis and Eric Dwight Davis and the woman he intended to marry, Gail
Profitt. Chuck Richardson passed away at 3:30 a.m. this morning.