A 1957 graduate of Redford High School in Detroit, MI, Richard received a scholarship to attend William and Mary University in Williamsburg, VA. After four years of studies, he graduated from W&M with a degree in Chemistry.
In 1964, Richard was hired by the Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation as a field Sales/Service Representative. After honing his skills solving problems with large commercial laundry accounts, Richard took on a new challenge in 1974 as the Assistant General Manager for the Metro Detroit Hospital Service Group. He experiences and success in the commercial operations side of the business lead him to Texas in 1977.
Feeling the entrepreneur spirit, Richard formed his own company rightly named Cottrell & Associates. Over the next three years, Richard worked as a consultant helping large commercial laundry operations find savings and efficiencies. Ultimately his success as a consultant led to an opportunity to become the Vice President & General Manager of the Texas Medical Center’s central linen and laundry operations.
Due to outsourcing of the commercial laundry business, Richard left the Texas Medical Center in 1985 to open his own retail laundry and dry-cleaning store.
In 1986, an opportunity to join the Sysco Corporation as a Product Manager in the Chemical Merchandising Department was too great to pass up. Over the next 26 years, Richard led the charge in formulating the best dish, floor and laundry products in food service distribution.
Following his retirement in 2012, Richard spent a significant amount of time with his two favorite hobbies: model trains and stamp collecting.
Long serving Second Baptist Church as a Deacon both at the Woodway and West Campuses, Richard was the driving force in providing the Lionel model trains for Second’s extensive displays that entertain thousands of children and parents each Christmas season. His love for Christ and Second Baptist Church was unmeasured.
In addition to the above, Richard was very devoted to taking care of himself physically. He continued to actively play softball and volleyball well into his early 70’s while maintaining weekly gym work outs.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his sister Diane Cottrell of Ann Arbor, MI.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to donate to Houston Hospice in Richard’s name.
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