Daddo

Daddo,

It's only now, in adulthood, that I've begun to fully appreciate everything you taught us, everything you've done for us, and how incredible a father you are and have been. I find myself reminded almost daily of a time you told us a story of when, at the Salt Lake Temple, one of the general authorities gave a talk and stressed the point, "You cannot stand on borrowed light." While all of us have made choices and taken paths different from the ones you would have chosen for us, it's because we have not been content to simply rely on what others tell us. We all have a desire, a need, to find out for ourselves, to discover, learn, and explore.

Sitting in one place makes us restless, because you showed there is a big and amazing world to which we are connected and in which we can make a difference. Aside from the stories you would tell us (Often. And repeatedly.) about your experiences travelling around the world, you instilled in us an insatiable curiosity about it. I remember watching the news and every time a story would come on, you would take us to the big maps hanging in the hallway and show us where it was taking place, and tell us all about it. Not only has it been wicked helpful on geography exams, but it's helped us to more fully appreciate every opportunity we have to visit a new place.

Listening to someone say something - anything - false or incorrect frustrates us because you taught us that there is such a thing as truth, and no more important thing than honesty. It's made each of us a pain in the butt to every sunday school teacher, college professor, boyfriend, and friend that we've had. More than that, it's made us people who aren't satisfied with half-truths or accepted wisdom. We are always striving to know more, and to improve the knowledge we have. It's difficult, but we do it because you showed us it's worth it.

You're an amazing Dad, Dad, and I'm immensely thankful to have had you and mom as my parents and teachers. You've accomplished a lot in 60 years. I can't wait to see what the next 60 hold. (Ha!) I love you, Daddo.

John

From Clint and Connie Gray and Family

Richard,

We have lots of memories trips to the temple,  trip to Nauvoo, going to dinner and getting together for the new year and the fourth of July. oh I almost forgot our study group.

Clint remembers the army trips. My favorite is the conversations on the phone in two different languages trying to talk to each other.

Thanks for your friendship all these years. We have missed getting together for the holidays this past year. We hope you have a great birthday !
Let us know when you guys come back in town, we would love to go to dinner and catch up.

Love,
Clint, Connie and family

From James and Cordell Foulk

Happy Birthday King Richard the 60th!!

Cordell and I wish you the best year of your life and continued live & success... Keep on rocking Rich... And we don't mean the chair!

Love you in a BIG Texas way,

Cordell & James

From Lisa (Dutton) Farren

So Happy Birthday Brother Manwaring! 

Ben asked me for memories - I don't have anything specific - but I do have a lot of fondness.  Since the very first moment we met (when Ben brought me home for Thanksgiving from BYU two years after we were home from Germany), all I have ever felt from you is love.  You have made me feel a part of your family, not just a friend.  Quizzing me on my German, just like one of your own children (and making me realize how much smarter you are than me!) :) Every time I see you, your warmth radiates from you to me, and it makes me feel so loved and supported.  

Also, I have a lot of gratitude.  Honestly, after the gospel and my little brother :) Ben is literally like the most important thing in my life.  He is the best friend, and support system a person could ever ask for.  He came from you.  He is who is he, in part because of you.  I am so thankful that you have molded him into the man he is today.  I know his, mine and your opinions may not always be the same (understatement) :) ha! But I am eternally grateful for the gift of your family you have given me.  Not just Ben, all of your family has made my life better and more full.  There is nothing I could ever do to repay what I feel. 

I hope this birthday finds you happy ~ and you know how loved you are! Always in my prayers, Lisa

I Learned It By Watching You!

It’s all your fault. You did this to us, Dad. Anytime someone accuses one of us of having a twisted sense of humor our only defense is “You think that’s sick? You should hear what Kurt the Slimeball did to that steak tartare! Now that’s some messed-up stuff.”

When one of our significant others or friends is embarrassed when we start singing along with the music in the store at full volume we can only respond by singing all of the parts to “Tradition” or “Sunrise, Sunset” even more loudly (Okay, I won’t put all of the blame on you for this one; when we harmonize with the elevator music that’s Mom’s fault.).

Anytime we find ourselves in the outdoors enjoying the feeling of the sun filtering through the clouds, the smell of the trees, and the sound of the wind we blame you for teaching us to appreciate nature.

When we lie in bed at night, unable to sleep because our minds are too busy contemplating the vastness of the universe and the meaning of “infinity”, we know it is your fault for inspiring us to think.

When we see someone in trouble and feel compelled to step in and help, even when it might put us in an uncomfortable situation, we know we are only doing it because you showed us how to be courageous (Don’t think that Mom is off the hook for this one either. Geez, what jerks you two are!).

Even though you taught us all of these, and many more, appalling things, you still deserve to have a wonderful birthday. I love you, Dadda!

Let's have 60 more from Randall and Marla

Its your birthday! The significance of this day is beyond just your birthday.  It is a celebration of someone that is loved and greatly admired. Richard you have hit a mile stone in your life...60 years (we will be hitting ours shortly).  Our sincere and heartfelt feelings of gratitude for the special times we have shared...The wonderful title of being "Grandparents" to Kristilynn and David's sons, and having holiday fun together through the years. Laughter, singing, great conversations, and friendship go along with those times...as Bob Hope's theme song...'THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES" apply...lets keep making them. Love and Blessings. Randall and Marla Vaughan

It's Like I Don't Even Know You

Dad, I know birthdays are supposed to be about happy thoughts and good memories but I think it is also a time for honesty. As I think back over the past and growing up with you as a father I have many memories, especially of our time in Germany. I know you were stationed there for military service and had previously lived there during your mission and also when your father was in the military. This should explain your ease of use of the German language and also your familiarity with the local customs. At the time, being very young, I did not notice anything unusual about how easily you were able to blend in with the locals.
As time went on and we moved back to the States, I assumed our family fixation with Germany and the customs, especially at holidays, was due to the time spent living there.
There has always been this running "joke" in the family, extended family, and even among close friends, that you are an operative for the CIA or some branch of U.S. intelligence operations. I think what this really implies is that we all know that you have something you are hiding, a double life if you will. I think I have known the truth for several years now but didn't want to admit it. I remember when we were living with you and mom and going out to the backyard to find this scene

You seemed surprised to see me and when I asked what you were doing you stumbled over your words and said "They are digging grav...garden holes, yeah that's it garden holes." 

I think it is time we dropped this charade because I know who you really are and now everyone will know. Here is the proof that shows once and for all your true history

Fruits of Your Labors

Only the Beginning

Wow! You made it. The four of us tried (most of the time unintentionally) to send you to an early grave, but you battled everything we thought up and came back stronger if not a little grayer on top. My theory is that the color change is due to internal cranial pressure caused by stress pushing the grey stuff from the inside out, away from where it is really needed. Medical science may call it dementia but I prefer parenthood. Whatever it is, the first sign is repetition of the phrase "Have I told you this story before?" Hell yes you have, but because we love you and still enjoy hearing about how you and your brothers caused each other massive internal injuries and mostly unnoticeable brain damage, we listen to those stories again like it was the first time.

Fortunately for us, you survived your childhood and six younger brothers who would have loved nothing more than to move up a spot in the age rankings. 

None of this would even be possible if you had not found a girl who, despite your cootie infestation, allowed you to hold hands with her, take her to barn dances, cow tipping, and all the other thing couples did as courtship rituals in the 1940's.

(Full-blown cooties at 50, sadly still no cure)

Maybe it was all your skills she fell in love with.

Dutch oven skills

Mullet skills

 'Stache skills

Whatever the reasons, fortunately the two of you decided to start a family and  wound up with four beautifully dysfunctional children, we were all meant for each other and still are. 

Happy Birthday Dad! One of my most fondest memories of you was right after David and I started dating and you walked in on David and I kissing and you started talking in a foreign language! I thought you might kick me out of the house but you just left the room muttering who knows what...

You have been apart of my life longer then you haven't been apart of my life Dad. I have lots of fond memories of you- like your raised eyebrow when your telling a fib, the travels together to many national parks, the Halloween pranks, freezer food, you working in the garden, the crazy play time with the boys, your sweet tears over Johnathon, Christmas carols, you always taking pictures, but most of all your love and concern for our family. Thank you for the great memories and the many more to come. I love you Dad. Have a happy 60th!
Love, Kristilynn

From Michael

Papa, you're the best and I think your really nice and kind and loved when we have family outings up in Breckinridge and the conversations we have make alway so curious and smarter. I love how you monster us, I remember this one time when there had been a big forest fire close by and well they put the fire out there was still lot of smoke and ash in the air, we had decided it would be fun to be monstered that night so it was all foggy and you monstered us at the park and I remember how fun it was and scary but all it was still fun. Happy Birthday Papa Love, Michael

From Daniel

Hello Papa, this is Daniel! I cannot forget when we would pick vegetables and the fruits in the backyard garden. The apples were my favorite. We had so much fun in that house and backyard. I'll never forget the things we did in that house and when you monstered us! You are the best papa EVER! Something I will never forget is going to the zoo together all of the animals we saw were great. We had some great times! Well, I just want you to know that I love and I wish you a happy birthday. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I'm about to say the hardest thing: goodbye. :-(

From Brett Evans

When I was 17, I was mulling over which university to attend. I couldn't decide between BYU-Provo and BYU-Hawaii. One night, your dad [Richard] and my dad and I were driving somewhere and your dad was telling me about how he used to get on the bus in Hawaii and ride around the island and just explore. It was really cool to hear some of his stories. He told me about some fun restaurants and shave ice shacks and stuff to do on the North Shore. He made it sound so carefree and picturesque. After thinking about the schools a lot more, I finally decided that I'd like to attend Hawaii. Your dad's stories really made me excited to go there.

From Chris Johnston

Happy 60th birthday Richard!  It was great to see you and Melody at our wedding!.  It really meant a lot to me for you to be there.  It has been great getting to know you over the last few years at family events and gatherings.  I remember the fun time we had in Seattle in the summer of 2011 for Sea Fair.  We were thrilled that you and Melody were able to come over for festivities.  We had a very nice BBQ (steak I think) at my grandparents house on Mercer Island.  It was a warm, sunny day that we spent on the back porch sharing stories and having a very enjoyable time.  We could see the hydro boats racing on Washington Lake and watch the Blue Angels perform in the skies above.  It was a very fun time and look forward to doing it again for summers to come!  Happy Birthday Richard!!  Love, Chris

Sprinklers and Character

I learned something sweet about Papa's character on our first date. It was early September of 1974 so a lot of people in Provo were still watering their lawns. Back then there weren't so many watering systems. Most people used sprinklers attached to a hose. Papa picked me up very promptly for our date and we started our walk to the BYU campus. We hadn't gone far when we encountered a sprinkler that was watering lawn and sidewalk. We were forced to detour out into the street to avoid getting wet.

After our second sprinkler encounter it became clear that Papa was unhappy about something. I asked him about it and his answer surprised and touched me. He had spent many minutes prior to picking me up for our date walking several possible routes to campus and mapped out the one that would allow us to walk the entire way without getting wet and without having to stray from the sidewalks. What he hadn't factored in was the fact that sprinklers had to be moved in order to cover the entire lawn so many of the spots that had previously been safe were now wet.

I assured Papa that it wasn't a problem to avoid a sprinkler here and there and let him know that I appreciated his thoughtfulness. He has demonstrated that sort of care and concern many times in our years together. He is a real gentleman.

Him With Camera Attached Face

Possibly the most enduring image of Papa is him with a camera as these photos from Ben and dad's trip to West Texas clearly demonstrate!