Joe William Richard

October 22, 1931 – August 12, 2015

Joe Richard was born in Dallas, Texas to Lester and Edna Richard. Joe graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1949 and proudly joined the Navy in 1950 serving primarily on the USS Uhlman. He married his high school sweetheart, Martha in 1954 at the end of his Navy career. They briefly lived in Long Beach, CA before returning to Texas to attend Texas Tech University. With their ‘home in tow’, they headed back to the property he inherited from his Grandmother in northeast Garland and they designed and built their home. This land provided him many terrific memories from childhood summertimes, to raising his own three children to watching one of his three granddaughters raised there as well.

In 1972, Joe joined 2 partners in a fledging business that with his guidance became a successful company that had the ability to adapt and change with the times. He was proud of Environmental Testing Laboratory and all he and his son, Brady had accomplished with it. He worked till he was diagnosed with cancer in 2012.

Another passion of his was horses. With countless National and World Championships adorning his work and home office shelves, it was obvious he knew how to pick good ones as well. The people that shared the same passion soon became an integral part of his life and would remain friends for a lifetime. It was a hobby that he immersed himself into with his two daughters in 1982 and later two grandchildren. He served on the Appaloosa Horse Club Board of Directors, served in different capacities with regional clubs and ran the Appaloosa Cutting Horse Association giving it the foundation that has made it continue to be successful today. One of his great thrills was to serve as scout on the famous Chief Joseph Trail Ride and he completed the full journey, which takes 13 years traveling roughly 100 miles a year. He enjoyed several other organized trail rides as well and thoroughly enjoyed the people he rode with. Martha served as his trusted driver, moving from camp to camp and one of their cutting mares, Dixie, carried him for the majority of the trips.

Joe and Martha took their adventurous spirits and traveled the World. Always happy to return home, they were soon investigating where to go next.

Joe is predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Martha, and survived by his children: son Brady Richard and his wife Vickie with daughters Starley and Camille; daughter Rhonda Richard; and daughter Kyra Hoggett and her husband, Heath with daughter Macy.