Nick J. Richards passed away on January 1st, 2021, at the age of 75. He was born in Dinuba, California to Frank and Violet Richards, and the family moved back to Oklahoma before his 3rd birthday. He spent his elementary years in Pawnee, Oklahoma until the family moved to Oklahoma City. In high school, Nick was a member of the Harding High School Wrestling Team and the Phi Lambda Epsilon fraternity, where he made lifelong friends. Looking back, he always referred to those as his prime years. After his graduation from Harding High in 1963, he spent a short time in Stillwater, Oklahoma before relocating to Lawton in 1964 where he began developing subdivisions and building new homes and apartment projects with his father.
He enlisted in the Air Force Reserves from 1965 to 1969 where he was a Reciprocating Engine Aircraft Mechanic on the C-124 Globemaster. He was married to Barbara Melton of Lawton from 1967 to 1983; they had one child, Nicole.
Nick, Frank, and a business partner purchased two drilling rigs in the early 1980’s and this partnership lasted until the early 1990’s. Nick married his second wife, Maria, in May of 1990 and was married to her until his passing. She was the love of his life. They had two children, Nickolas and Katy, and raised them in Lawton.The drilling rigs were sold, the business partnership disbanded, and Nick went back to building homes and commercial buildings all over Oklahoma, where he enjoyed a successful career and wonderful life.
Anyone who knew Nick knows that one of his greatest passions was riding his bicycle. He helped sponsor rides in the Lawton area every year and rode in the Hotter ‘N Hell in Wichita Falls, Texas, almost every year since 1987. He adored traveling with his family and incorporating cycling into their worldwide adventures. He was kind, he was selfless, he always did what was right, and he always put the wellbeing of others before himself. A friend to all, he was the best of us and will be sorely missed for many, many years to come.
He is survived by his beautiful wife of 30 years, Maria; his 3 loving children, Nicole, Nickolas, and Katy; brother Jerry, Jerry’s children Diana and Denise; sister Mayree Clark, her husband, Jeff, their children Brady and Cale; and his father Frank. He is preceded in passing by his mother, Violet.
