[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1120-H1121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING AMEDEE ``DICK'' RICHARDS, JR.

  (Mr. SCHIFF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Amedee Richards, 
Jr., a treasured member of the South Pasadena community who died 
Thursday at the age of 84. He was a great man who served for many years 
as mayor, councilman, and as a small business owner, and he will long 
be remembered for his influential leadership and the preservation of 
South Pasadena.
  Dick Richards was one of the first people I sought out years ago to 
get his advice on issues important to the city. He and I shared a 
background in law enforcement. He was an FBI agent, and I was a Federal 
prosecutor and we instantly hit it off. Over the years, I continued to 
turn to him and always valued his thoughtful counsel.
  He led many communities endeavors, founding the South Pasadena Relay 
For Life, serving as President of the Mission West Association, and 
later, as a founding member of the New South Pasadena Chamber of 
Commerce. With his wife, Clara, he also opened Family Fair, a gift and 
candy store, as well as Buster's Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, which both 
immediately became South Pasadena landmarks. He also helped to start 
the weekly Farmers' Market in the Mission West District.
  I want to express my sincere condolences to the entire family. Sadly, 
that tremendous family lost another member in the last few days. Dick's 
eldest son, Amedee III, passed away on Monday morning. My heart goes 
out to the entire Richards family, Dick's wife, Clara, two sons, six 
daughters and 15 grandchildren.
  Dick called South Pasadena a kind of oasis. In this time of immense 
grief, I hope our community is comforted in knowing that Dick's legacy 
as a devoted public servant will live on in the vibrant oasis that he 
helped to create in South Pasadena.
  I rise today to honor Amedee ``Dick'' Richards Jr., a treasured 
member of the South Pasadena community, who died Thursday at the age of 
84. He was a great man who served for many years--as mayor, councilman, 
and as a small business owner--and will long be remembered for his 
influential leadership in the preservation of South Pasadena.
  Dick Richards was one of the first people I sought out years ago for 
advice on issues important to the city. He and I shared a background in 
law enforcement (he was an FBI agent, and I was a federal prosecutor) 
and we instantly hit it off. Over the years, I continued to turn to him 
and always valued his thoughtful counsel. His work, his family, and 
indeed his life are tremendous examples of what makes South Pasadena 
such a strong community.
  He led many community endeavors, founding the South Pasadena Relay 
for Life (an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society), 
serving as President of the Mission West Association, and later as a 
founding member of the New South Pasadena Chamber of

[[Page H1121]]

Commerce. With his wife Clara, he also opened Family Fair, a gift and 
candy store, as well as Buster's Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, which both 
immediately became instant South Pasadena landmarks. He also helped to 
start the weekly Farmers' Market in the Mission West District in 1999.
  Dick was a man respected and admired by his colleagues and peers. 
Serving on the South Pasadena City Council from 1989 to 1997, he was 
admired for both his integrity and courage, always voting his 
conscience. Dick called South Pasadena a ``kind of an oasis'' and 
sought to preserve the small town characteristics that made it unique. 
Those who worked with him considered themselves fortunate, and as 
current Mayor Odom Stamps has acknowledged, Dick has ``huge shoes that 
no one person will even remotely fill.''
  He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1922 and graduated from 
Boston University in 1943. He then entered the Naval Reserve, serving 
during World War II in the Pacific theater as an ensign on a mine-
sweeper. After WWII, he joined the FBI working specifically on Mafia 
cases and investigating the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. He 
retired from the FBI in 1977, founding Family Fair that same year.
  I want to express my sincere condolences to his entire family. And 
sadly, this tremendous family lost another member in the last few days. 
Dick's eldest son, Amedee III, passed away on Monday morning. My heart 
goes out to the entire Richards family, Dick's wife Clara, 2 sons, 6 
daughters, and 15 grandchildren.
  In this time of immense grief, I hope that our community is comforted 
in knowing that Dick's legacy as a devoted public servant will live on 
in the vibrant ``oasis'' that he created in South Pasadena.

                          ____________________