Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Amedee Richards, Jr., a treasured member of the South Pasadena community who died Thursday at the age of 84. He was a great man who served for many years as mayor, councilman, and as a small business owner, and he will long be remembered for his influential leadership and the preservation of South Pasadena.
Dick Richards was one of the first people I sought out years ago to get his advice on issues important to the city. He and I shared a background in law enforcement. He was an FBI agent, and I was a Federal prosecutor and we instantly hit it off. Over the years, I continued to turn to him and always valued his thoughtful counsel.
He led many communities endeavors, founding the South Pasadena Relay For Life, serving as President of the Mission West Association, and later, as a founding member of the New South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. With his wife, Clara, he also opened Family Fair, a gift and candy store, as well as Buster's Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, which both immediately became South Pasadena landmarks. He also helped to start the weekly Farmers' Market in the Mission West District.
I want to express my sincere condolences to the entire family. Sadly, that tremendous family lost another member in the last few days. Dick's eldest son, Amedee III, passed away on Monday morning. My heart goes out to the entire Richards family, Dick's wife, Clara, two sons, six daughters and 15 grandchildren.
Dick called South Pasadena a kind of oasis. In this time of immense grief, I hope our community is comforted in knowing that Dick's legacy as a devoted public servant will live on in the vibrant oasis that he helped to create in South Pasadena.
I rise today to honor Amedee ``Dick'' Richards Jr., a treasured member of the South Pasadena community, who died Thursday at the age of 84. He was a great man who served for many years--as mayor, councilman, and as a small business owner--and will long be remembered for his influential leadership in the preservation of South Pasadena.
Dick Richards was one of the first people I sought out years ago for advice on issues important to the city. He and I shared a background in law enforcement (he was an FBI agent, and I was a federal prosecutor) and we instantly hit it off. Over the years, I continued to turn to him and always valued his thoughtful counsel. His work, his family, and indeed his life are tremendous examples of what makes South Pasadena such a strong community.
He led many community endeavors, founding the South Pasadena Relay for Life (an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society), serving as President of the Mission West Association, and later as a founding member of the New South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. With his wife Clara, he also opened Family Fair, a gift and candy store, as well as Buster's Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, which both immediately became instant South Pasadena landmarks. He also helped to start the weekly Farmers' Market in the Mission West District in 1999.
Dick was a man respected and admired by his colleagues and peers. Serving on the South Pasadena City Council from 1989 to 1997, he was admired for both his integrity and courage, always voting his conscience. Dick called South Pasadena a ``kind of an oasis'' and sought to preserve the small town characteristics that made it unique. Those who worked with him considered themselves fortunate, and as current Mayor Odom Stamps has acknowledged, Dick has ``huge shoes that no one person will even remotely fill.''
He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1922 and graduated from Boston University in 1943. He then entered the Naval Reserve, serving during World War II in the Pacific theater as an ensign on a mine-sweeper. After WWII, he joined the FBI working specifically on Mafia cases and investigating the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. He retired from the FBI in 1977, founding Family Fair that same year.
I want to express my sincere condolences to his entire family. And sadly, this tremendous family lost another member in the last few days. Dick's eldest son, Amedee III, passed away on Monday morning. My heart goes out to the entire Richards family, Dick's wife Clara, 2 sons, 6 daughters, and 15 grandchildren.
In this time of immense grief, I hope that our community is comforted in knowing that Dick's legacy as a devoted public servant will live on in the vibrant ``oasis'' that he created in South Pasadena.