James “Jim” Dana Richards
June 12, 1925 - February 20, 2016 – age (90)
Our good friend Jim Richards passed away Saturday, February 20th, 10:25pm after a sudden and very brief battle with acute myelogenous leukemia. Released from the hospital to home hospice care earlier in the week, Jim was surrounded by family at the end.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty “Ebie”, daughter Mary, sons William and Andrew, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A 63-year member, Jim was one of great icons of the Barbershop Harmony Society and a true gentlemen. Considered the “COMPLETE Barbershopper”, he was an active chorus member, active quartet singer, active woodshedder, contest judge, teacher, administrator, mentor, and much more.
Jim joined the Society in 1953 in Evanston, Illinois, grew up in Pekin (home of the future championship chorus led by his former classmate Jim Moses) and was a long-time active member of the Minneapolis Commodores chorus. He served as their President, board member, coach, section leader, and tutor.
He was ALWAYS part of each after chapter meeting gathering and a regular for the chapter’s “Friday Lunch Bunch That Meets on Thursdays” where he always taught tags.
Jim attended the recent International Midwinter Convention in Reno, apparently unaware of his illness. Just this past Valentine’s Day he was singing in one of the chapter quartets delivering love songs around town, as was his annual tradition.
Jim was a 35-year faculty member of Harmony College/Harmony University. He was famous for teaching his trademark class “The Physics of Sound.” It was appropriate that he taught this class as Jim earned a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1956.
His presentation was one of the most popular classes at Harmony College / Harmony University for decades thanks to the WOW factor of the demos. His self-designed class gave singers a unique perspective from a scientific point of view. It allowed us to see, hear, and FEEL harmonics.
He presented several demonstrations using equipment such as a modified Johnson Intonation Trainer Keyboard that would “re-tune a chord”. Thousands of past students will also remember the Spectrogram that was used to SEE their singing voices. He would use a “tone generator” and a full frequency sweep to test our hearing from low to high with the famous Seashore Pitch Test.
He just recently retired from teaching his class after 35 continuous years. The class was kept alive by Jim’s protégé Jason Warschauer, who still uses Jim’s original equipment. The Physics of Sound class will once again be a major highlight of HU this August. Plan to be there.
He was a Senior Research Specialist in the Electrical Products Division at 3M for 32 years.
Jim’s impressive barbershop resume includes:
Quartet Man
Jim was an avid quartet man. In total he had 15 appearances on the International Competition stage (three with his quartets and 12 with the Minneapolis Commodores).
He won the 1990 International Seniors Quartet Championship held in San Francisco singing bass with Grandma's Beaus after placing second the year before.
Jim’s International Contest Quartets
Year Quartet Part Placed
1972 Red Barons baritone 37th
1964 Men of A-Chord baritone 43rd
1963 Men of A-Chord baritone 38th
Men of A-Chord, baritone – Int’l competitor 1963-64
Red Barons, baritone - 1971 Land O'Lakes District champions/1972 Int’l Competitors
Grandma's Beaus, bass - 1990 International Seniors Quartet Champions
Judge
Jim served on the International Panel of judges four times (2000/1995/1987/1976). He was certified in the Singing, as well as the Sound Category and as a Chairman of Judges. He was also the 1979- 80 Sound Category Specialist and declared Society Judge Emeritus 2011.
Musician
Standup bass player with the Barbershop Harmony Society Dixieland Jazz Band/All Stars performing just recently in Reno.
Administrative
Land O’ Lakes District Secretary 1972
Land O’ Lakes District President 1973-74
Minneapolis Chapter President 1976
International Board Treasurer
International Board Vice President
46th Barbershop Harmony Society International President -1989
Officer, Association of Senior Quartet Champions
Giving Back
Jim was a proud supporter of The Harmony Foundation as a member of the President’s Council.
Recognition
He was named 1978 Minneapolis Commodores chapter Barbershopper of the Year and inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Society Hall of Fame - Class of 2009.
Jim did so much for barbershop and lots more behind the scenes that went mostly unnoticed by others.
He was a humble man and low-key. He did what needed to be done and did so without the need of recognition or a pat on the back. Jim was a beacon of positive attitude and knew no enemies.
Simply put – Jim Richards was a great man.
[written by Grady Kerr - Barbershop Harmony Historian]
====================================
Official Family Obituary
Long-time active member of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. Served as choir member, lay minister, Vestry, and fix-it guy. Senior Research Specialist in the Electrical Products Division at 3M for 32 years. Key contributor to SNAP-27, the thermoelectric generator used to conduct experiments for the Apollo 12-17 missions. Volunteered in many capacities, including 25 years at the Experiment Gallery at the Science Museum of Minnesota, 63-year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society; served as International President, contest judge, and member of the Minneapolis Commodores Chorus. Creator and instructor of the “Physics of Sound” course for barbershoppers attending Harmony University. His influence in the worlds of science and music continue to be an inspiration to many; however, the love for his family is just as remarkable and will be remembered dearly. Visitation at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Hamline Ave, St. Paul, Wed, 2.24.16, from 4p-7p Memorial service Thurs, 2.25.16 at 11am. Visitation one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Episcopal Homes, and Harmony Foundation.
====================================
Article taken from January 1989 Harmonizer (dated info)
The Compleat Barbershopper
PROPHETIC? - In 1943 Jim Richards was an Army Air Corps cadet in Texas (and had yet to see a plane) when the glamor photo was taken. Some 25 years later he seemed to have switched sides with the Red Barons quartet. From left are John Syndergaard, lead; Ken Agre, tenor; Richards, bari, and Norm DeCarlo, bass.
A 17th Century Englishman named Izaak Walton once wrote a "bible" for fishermen which he titled, in the style of the day, The Compleat Angler.
James Dana Richards of Roseville, Minn., the Society's 46th president, might someday write the bible on barbershopping. He comes probably as close as anyone to being "The Compleat Barbershopper."
Singer? No less than 15 appearances on the international stage-three with two of his six quartets (one of which became a district champion) and a dozen with the Minneapolis Commodores, earning three medals along the way.
Administrator? Minneapolis Chapter president, Land 0' Lakes District secretary and president, International Board treasurer, vice president and finally president for 1989.
Judge? Helped write the book on the sound category, certified as a sound judge and chairman of judges, sound category specialist in 1979- 80.
HEP School and Harmony College? On the faculty for the last 20 years, teaching the Physics of Sound.
Barbershopper of the Year? Land O' Lakes District in 1975, Minneapolis Chapter in 1978.
To these distinctions and others (21-time Man of Note, incurable woodshedder) he recently added another every bass will understand. After 30 years as a baritone, he sings bass in his latest quartet, Grandma's Beaus, which planned to compete in the Seniors Quartet Contest at the Midwinter Convention.)
Introducing: Jim Richards, 'Compleat' President
Jim joined the Society in 1953 in Evanston, Ill. That was five years after he had married his college sweetheart, Ebie Van-Horn. They produced three children, Mary, Will and Andrew, and on December 13, 1988, their fourth grandchild was born.
Jim grew up in Pekin, IL, living next door to Helen Guthrie, a lady he termed "Pekin's female 'Music Man'," "She taught almost every kid in town to play a horn,
including my oldest sister, 'Maggie,' on trombone, my sister Nancy a cornet, my brother Bill the clarinet and me, as the youngest, the flute and piccolo. Jim Moses
was two years behind me in high school. She taught him to play the sousaphone.
He later gained barbershop fame by directing Pekin to three international chorus championships, "Some years ago I traded the flute for a banjo. When a friend gave me a badly deteriorated bass fiddle, I rebuilt it and taught myself to play it. Now I'm thoroughly hooked and play it regularly at church and occasionally with a combo,"
In 1943 Jim enlisted in the Army Air Corps, forerunner of the U,S. Air Force, and was shipped to Coleman, Texas, for training. "The first thing they did was send us to a photographer who dressed each of us in a helmet, goggles and white scarf and took individual pictures-real glamour shots. We hadn't yet seen the inside of an airplane!"
Years later, dressed in a similar outfit (but for a different air force), Jim sang baritone with the Red Barons, who eventually be-came Land O'Lakes District champions. Jim went on with the Army Air Corps to learn to fly B-17 and B-29 bombers, but World War II ended before he was sent overseas. He remained active in the Air Force Reserve during graduate school and his early days with SPEBSQSA. Conveniently, both the Reserve unit and his chapter met on the same night of the week in adjacent buildings. After receiving his PhD in physics from Northwestern, Jim joined the 3M Company to begin a 32-year professional career. Active in church and community affairs, he served as chairman of the St. Paul YMCA Camp DuNord Board of Management. He retired as a senior research specialist from the 3M Company last August. "It was great timing," he laughed. "Now I can devote even more time to barbershopping!"
(written by Jim Bagby – Harmonizer Editor)
====================================
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty “Ebie”, daughter Mary, sons William and Andrew, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A 63-year member, Jim was one of great icons of the Barbershop Harmony Society and a true gentlemen. Considered the “COMPLETE Barbershopper”, he was an active chorus member, active quartet singer, active woodshedder, contest judge, teacher, administrator, mentor, and much more.
Jim joined the Society in 1953 in Evanston, Illinois, grew up in Pekin (home of the future championship chorus led by his former classmate Jim Moses) and was a long-time active member of the Minneapolis Commodores chorus. He served as their President, board member, coach, section leader, and tutor.
He was ALWAYS part of each after chapter meeting gathering and a regular for the chapter’s “Friday Lunch Bunch That Meets on Thursdays” where he always taught tags.
Jim attended the recent International Midwinter Convention in Reno, apparently unaware of his illness. Just this past Valentine’s Day he was singing in one of the chapter quartets delivering love songs around town, as was his annual tradition.
Jim was a 35-year faculty member of Harmony College/Harmony University. He was famous for teaching his trademark class “The Physics of Sound.” It was appropriate that he taught this class as Jim earned a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1956.
His presentation was one of the most popular classes at Harmony College / Harmony University for decades thanks to the WOW factor of the demos. His self-designed class gave singers a unique perspective from a scientific point of view. It allowed us to see, hear, and FEEL harmonics.
He presented several demonstrations using equipment such as a modified Johnson Intonation Trainer Keyboard that would “re-tune a chord”. Thousands of past students will also remember the Spectrogram that was used to SEE their singing voices. He would use a “tone generator” and a full frequency sweep to test our hearing from low to high with the famous Seashore Pitch Test.
He just recently retired from teaching his class after 35 continuous years. The class was kept alive by Jim’s protégé Jason Warschauer, who still uses Jim’s original equipment. The Physics of Sound class will once again be a major highlight of HU this August. Plan to be there.
He was a Senior Research Specialist in the Electrical Products Division at 3M for 32 years.
Jim’s impressive barbershop resume includes:
Quartet Man
Jim was an avid quartet man. In total he had 15 appearances on the International Competition stage (three with his quartets and 12 with the Minneapolis Commodores).
He won the 1990 International Seniors Quartet Championship held in San Francisco singing bass with Grandma's Beaus after placing second the year before.
Jim’s International Contest Quartets
Year Quartet Part Placed
1972 Red Barons baritone 37th
1964 Men of A-Chord baritone 43rd
1963 Men of A-Chord baritone 38th
Men of A-Chord, baritone – Int’l competitor 1963-64
Red Barons, baritone - 1971 Land O'Lakes District champions/1972 Int’l Competitors
Grandma's Beaus, bass - 1990 International Seniors Quartet Champions
Judge
Jim served on the International Panel of judges four times (2000/1995/1987/1976). He was certified in the Singing, as well as the Sound Category and as a Chairman of Judges. He was also the 1979- 80 Sound Category Specialist and declared Society Judge Emeritus 2011.
Musician
Standup bass player with the Barbershop Harmony Society Dixieland Jazz Band/All Stars performing just recently in Reno.
Administrative
Land O’ Lakes District Secretary 1972
Land O’ Lakes District President 1973-74
Minneapolis Chapter President 1976
International Board Treasurer
International Board Vice President
46th Barbershop Harmony Society International President -1989
Officer, Association of Senior Quartet Champions
Giving Back
Jim was a proud supporter of The Harmony Foundation as a member of the President’s Council.
Recognition
He was named 1978 Minneapolis Commodores chapter Barbershopper of the Year and inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Society Hall of Fame - Class of 2009.
Jim did so much for barbershop and lots more behind the scenes that went mostly unnoticed by others.
He was a humble man and low-key. He did what needed to be done and did so without the need of recognition or a pat on the back. Jim was a beacon of positive attitude and knew no enemies.
Simply put – Jim Richards was a great man.
[written by Grady Kerr - Barbershop Harmony Historian]
====================================
Official Family Obituary
Long-time active member of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. Served as choir member, lay minister, Vestry, and fix-it guy. Senior Research Specialist in the Electrical Products Division at 3M for 32 years. Key contributor to SNAP-27, the thermoelectric generator used to conduct experiments for the Apollo 12-17 missions. Volunteered in many capacities, including 25 years at the Experiment Gallery at the Science Museum of Minnesota, 63-year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society; served as International President, contest judge, and member of the Minneapolis Commodores Chorus. Creator and instructor of the “Physics of Sound” course for barbershoppers attending Harmony University. His influence in the worlds of science and music continue to be an inspiration to many; however, the love for his family is just as remarkable and will be remembered dearly. Visitation at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Hamline Ave, St. Paul, Wed, 2.24.16, from 4p-7p Memorial service Thurs, 2.25.16 at 11am. Visitation one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Episcopal Homes, and Harmony Foundation.
====================================
Article taken from January 1989 Harmonizer (dated info)
The Compleat Barbershopper
PROPHETIC? - In 1943 Jim Richards was an Army Air Corps cadet in Texas (and had yet to see a plane) when the glamor photo was taken. Some 25 years later he seemed to have switched sides with the Red Barons quartet. From left are John Syndergaard, lead; Ken Agre, tenor; Richards, bari, and Norm DeCarlo, bass.
A 17th Century Englishman named Izaak Walton once wrote a "bible" for fishermen which he titled, in the style of the day, The Compleat Angler.
James Dana Richards of Roseville, Minn., the Society's 46th president, might someday write the bible on barbershopping. He comes probably as close as anyone to being "The Compleat Barbershopper."
Singer? No less than 15 appearances on the international stage-three with two of his six quartets (one of which became a district champion) and a dozen with the Minneapolis Commodores, earning three medals along the way.
Administrator? Minneapolis Chapter president, Land 0' Lakes District secretary and president, International Board treasurer, vice president and finally president for 1989.
Judge? Helped write the book on the sound category, certified as a sound judge and chairman of judges, sound category specialist in 1979- 80.
HEP School and Harmony College? On the faculty for the last 20 years, teaching the Physics of Sound.
Barbershopper of the Year? Land O' Lakes District in 1975, Minneapolis Chapter in 1978.
To these distinctions and others (21-time Man of Note, incurable woodshedder) he recently added another every bass will understand. After 30 years as a baritone, he sings bass in his latest quartet, Grandma's Beaus, which planned to compete in the Seniors Quartet Contest at the Midwinter Convention.)
Introducing: Jim Richards, 'Compleat' President
Jim joined the Society in 1953 in Evanston, Ill. That was five years after he had married his college sweetheart, Ebie Van-Horn. They produced three children, Mary, Will and Andrew, and on December 13, 1988, their fourth grandchild was born.
Jim grew up in Pekin, IL, living next door to Helen Guthrie, a lady he termed "Pekin's female 'Music Man'," "She taught almost every kid in town to play a horn,
including my oldest sister, 'Maggie,' on trombone, my sister Nancy a cornet, my brother Bill the clarinet and me, as the youngest, the flute and piccolo. Jim Moses
was two years behind me in high school. She taught him to play the sousaphone.
He later gained barbershop fame by directing Pekin to three international chorus championships, "Some years ago I traded the flute for a banjo. When a friend gave me a badly deteriorated bass fiddle, I rebuilt it and taught myself to play it. Now I'm thoroughly hooked and play it regularly at church and occasionally with a combo,"
In 1943 Jim enlisted in the Army Air Corps, forerunner of the U,S. Air Force, and was shipped to Coleman, Texas, for training. "The first thing they did was send us to a photographer who dressed each of us in a helmet, goggles and white scarf and took individual pictures-real glamour shots. We hadn't yet seen the inside of an airplane!"
Years later, dressed in a similar outfit (but for a different air force), Jim sang baritone with the Red Barons, who eventually be-came Land O'Lakes District champions. Jim went on with the Army Air Corps to learn to fly B-17 and B-29 bombers, but World War II ended before he was sent overseas. He remained active in the Air Force Reserve during graduate school and his early days with SPEBSQSA. Conveniently, both the Reserve unit and his chapter met on the same night of the week in adjacent buildings. After receiving his PhD in physics from Northwestern, Jim joined the 3M Company to begin a 32-year professional career. Active in church and community affairs, he served as chairman of the St. Paul YMCA Camp DuNord Board of Management. He retired as a senior research specialist from the 3M Company last August. "It was great timing," he laughed. "Now I can devote even more time to barbershopping!"
(written by Jim Bagby – Harmonizer Editor)
====================================