After years of crossing paths and having mutual friends I finally met Dick at Rocky Flats in 2001. What a hoot he was, becoming a great friend. We had him over to the house a number of times, barbecued steaks and played on a pool league team together. As soon as Dick had been there long enough for his insurance to kick in he got checked out by a cardiologist (he'd had a prior heart attack) who told him his arteries were 90+% clogged and there was nothing they could do for him. I left Rocky and flew back out once for a few days and stayed with him A month or so later he had a stroke while sitting in training there. After that he was biding his time waiting for the big day. I'll never forget on time I called to tell him I saw some girls holding up a sign a couple blocks form his trailer for a "Topless Car Wash". He called me back a while later and said, "thanks getting me all excited for nothing!" He said the gals wanted four bucks to wash his car but if he also wanted the top washed it'd be another buck.
He always said he'd go young like the rest of his family, and knowing that he lived life to the fullest. I know he's having fun wherever he's at and I hope to have some fun with him again .......some day.