Saint Leo mourns loss of longtime Savannah educator David Richards
The Saint Leo University community mourns the loss of Dr. David Forest Richards Jr., longtime Savannah Education Center faculty member, who passed away Tuesday, February 5. He was one of the earliest educators at Saint Leo’s Savannah, GA, location.
He was a senior adjunct professor and taught business and human resources management/ administration courses at Saint Leo’s first location in Savannah, the U.S. Army Education Center at Hunter Army Airfield.
Richards was a World War II and Vietnam veteran. He retired from the U.S. Army with 30 years of service, as the only African-American holding the rank of chief warrant officer. He received numerous awards including a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart medals for heroic valor. Richards’ most outstanding award was his induction as the first African American in the Parachute Rigger Warrant Officer’s Hall of Fame in 1993 in Fort Lee, VA. In November 2018, Richards was one of 17 veterans inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame for his contribution to airborne military operations.
Richards, along with Dr. Julius “Boo” Hornstein and Dr. Richard Cabbage, both professors emeritus, were known as “the three amigos” whenever they visited University Campus. They formed a strong trio of educators who taught military students at the beginnings of the Savannah center. “We saw and helped Saint Leo move to greater heights,” Richards said at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Savannah Education Center.
“I was very sorry to hear of Dr. Richards’ passing,” Cabbage said. “He was an extremely dedicated instructor and very loyal to Saint Leo University. He was a good friend to students and faculty alike and will be missed by all. If there was anyone that ever fit the label of a scholar and a gentleman, it was Dr. Richards.”
Richards was an active member of the Savannah community serving in numerous capacities including as a charter member of 100 Black Men of America Inc., Savannah chapter; vice chair of Gateway Behavioral Health Services; and board of director of Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum. He was the grand marshal for Savannah’s 2008 Veterans Day Parade and 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.
He was married to the late Swannie M. Richards for 59 years. He is survived by three children; Rev. David F. Richards III, Yvette Kim Richards, and Dr. Bonnye R. Anthony; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
A celebration of life was held February 16 at St. Philip AME Church, Savannah.
Memorial donations may be made to the David F. Richards Jr. Scholarship with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Mu Phi Chapter, P.O. Box 1363 Savannah, GA 31402 (Memo: David F. Richards Jr. Scholarship).
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