- Date Of Birth: September 7, 1939
- Date Of Death: March 11, 2018
- State: Ohio
Henry Samuel “Hank” Richard Jr. went to meet his Jesus face to face on March 11th, 2018. A lifelong Akron resident, Hank lived a full life and was devoted to his family, his work, and his relationship with Jesus.
Born on September 7, 1939 to Henry and Eleanor Richard, Hank grew up in the Firestone Park Area of Akron. The second of six children, he attended St Paul’s Elementary School and was in the first graduating class of Archbishop Hoban High School (’57). Though he was born into an academic family, Hank learned that his strengths were in working with his hands. His mechanical aptitude made him renown in the drag racing areas of Akron and gave him “the Baddest Studebaker running.” Joining the Army after graduation, Hank served in 101st Airborne Division was eternally proud of his service. Upon discharge, he worked at Goodyear Aerospace and in several shops, ultimately buying his own gas station and service center on Waterloo Rd in 1970.
Hank’s own father was Director of Racing for the Firestone Tire company and passed away in 1961 while Hank was overseas. Hank returned to Akron and never left. He took great pride in the development of his family as they grew to become vibrant men and women. He stood in for his father by walking his sisters Susan, Margret, Kathy, and Ellen down the aisle and served as his younger brother George’s best man. Hank was beloved by his 19 nieces and nephews including serving as celebrant at several of their own weddings.
Hank married, the love of his life, Judith “Judy” Klodt in 1963. The stayed together through wind and weather and she soon became his partner both in life and work as they built the gas station on Waterloo to the most productive and successful dealership in the Exxon Oil Company. Elected to the dealer council a record four times, Hank helped shape the oil company’s relationships with its 22,000 dealers. Their single station grew to add two more, including Hank’s instance that Judy become the first female dealer in Exxon history.
