B. Maurice "Bud" Richards

B. Maurice “Bud” Richards OGDEN - Bernard Maurice, “Bud” Richards, died Saturday, December 13, 2008. He was born April 16, 1922 to Bernie and Lula Richards. Maurice graduated in 1940 in one of the first classes to finish at the new Ogden High School where he was Senior Class President. Shortly after graduating, he joined the army and was selected to train as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. Graduating at the top of his class in flight school, he was given the chance to fly the newly developed B-29 airplane. Maurice was sent to the South Pacific as part of World War II, and as captain of a B-29 crew, he flew thirty-five bombing missions over a variety of enemy targets. During his military career, he was awarded two Presidential Citations, three Battle-Stars, four Air Medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Good Conduct Medal. At the end of the war, Maurice returned to Ogden and attended Weber College. He was accepted into the University of Utah Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree. Following graduation, he was accepted to Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut where he received a Masters of Law degree, and then returned to practice law in his native town of Ogden. While serving in the military in 1943, Maurice married his high school sweetheart, Sophie Reed. Maurice and Sophie raised five children, each of whom has been very involved in their churches and communities. He then married Myrtle Barker, and helped raise her children. Later in life, Maurice found his final love, Patricia. He married Patty and embraced her family. Maurice has enjoyed a lengthy and distinguished legal and professional career. He was elected Weber County Attorney in 1952, and served for twelve years as our chief county prosecutor. During that time he worked with law enforcement officials to clean up and tame Ogden’s “wild” 25th Street. During the sixties he was elected and served as a Weber County Commissioner. Following his political career, he organized the Weber County Public Defender organization and worked as a private attorney. In 1986, he was appointed to the Bench and served as northern Utah’s first Court Commissioner until his retirement in the late 1990’s. Maurice was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various capacities. He is survived by his children, Sheree Reed (Stan), Reed Richards (Martha), Rebecca Richards (Brett’s wife), Tina Herman (Bob), Teri Richards, 15 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife, Patricia and her children, Carla Ibanez, Delcy Pozo (Omar), Hugo Ibanez, Erick Richards (Rosy), eight grandchildren and Patty’s mother, Josefina Lozano. Maurice was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Dahrl Allen, his brother, Winn Richards, his first wife, Sophie, and his son, Brett Richards. Maurice will be remembered for his red socks, his many creative endeavors, and his dedication to work, having put in a full eight hours the day before he died. “We live in fame, or go down in flame. Hey! Nothing’ll stop the Army Air Corps!” Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Wasatch Ward Chapel located at 6350 So. Combe Road. Friends may call at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., on Wednesday, December 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday at the Ward Chapel from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Interment, Ogden City Cemetery. Send condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com