Born in Arkadelphia, AR on Nov. 6, 1917, he was the only child to Morley and Elizabeth Jennings. As a son to a Hall of Fame football coach, Richard (Dick) loved football and golf. He lettered in football at Baylor and received his Juris Doctorate from George Washington Law School in Washington, DC in 1942 while working on the Hill for Texas Senator Tom Conley and operating an elevator in the Capitol Building. Although having received an appointment to the Naval Academy, he chose the Army and served as a Lieutenant in the Third Army in WWII. Dick then moved to Lubbock in 1949 and continued a law practice that spanned 76 years. He was married to his beloved wife of 61 years, Dorothy Winston Brown until her death in 2012. Together, they raised 9 children.
A passionate and competitive golfer, Dick won golf tournaments in each of the ten decades of his life including the World Senior Amateur Championship in 1981. He was a founding member of Lubbock CC and played his last 30 years as a member of Hillcrest CC whereby he shot below his age thousands of recorded times. An avid storyteller and a remarkable history buff, he was often cited for his quick wit and choice words of wisdom which also included "Now by the same token..." He was an Elder and Deacon of First Presbyterian Church and later a member of Westminster Presbyterian.
Dick is also preceded in death by his son, Rick Jennings. He is survived by his children, Bill and wife Karen Jennings, Julia Stratton, Nancy and husband Howard Lawson, Leigh and husband Jim Hoofnagle, Cindy Jennings, David and wife Deb Jennings, Robert and wife Deborah Jennings, and Dorsey Jennings. He leaves behind 22 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren.
Special loved ones and lifelong friends include Don January and family, Minta Gay, Bucky Sheffield, Kay and Tommy Davis, and special appreciation to those that cared for him in his last years of life.
