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Dick was born in Eureka, California. On the back of this photo of Dick and Ray is printed SWANLUND STUDIO, EUREKA, Calif. This looks like it was taken on Fickle Hill above Arcata where Dick's mother's father had his home and ranch. Dick's mother, Dagmar, was a teacher at the Table Bluff Elementary School (all grades!) until 1932 when Dick was born. Table Bluff is about 2 miles North of Loleta, and a few more miles from Fortuna and Ferndale. Bill lived in Ferndale ( might have been raised there), and Bill and Dagmar lived in Fortuna too, so maybe they still lived in Eureka, but could also have been Fortuna at this time. Please help us verify this if you recognize this location. Dick's family visited Fickle Hill often and loved playing there. Do you remember some of their stories? I remember having "beer pancakes" there as a kid. I love the hat and shirt Dick is wearing, and the smirk on his face. It shows he had a lot of character even at this young age.

Dick lived with his family in Pittsburg, CA at least from 1939 to 1944, and probably a few years earlier. His mom taught at elementary schools in Pittsburg during those years. I believe this location was near a military base.

During the war, his family would often invite military men to their house for dinner. I was told this was partially because the military had access to good meat and food from the base that civilians couldn't get. It was also because his family was welcoming and generous. The house was small and I seem to remember Dick telling me that he and Ray would sleep in a shack behind the house. Bill loved fishing and Dick and Ray would also go down to the river and fish.

Dick lived with his family in Oakland, CA. He said this was his high school picture. The pin on his lapel might be a high school pin. He graduated from Fremont High School in Oakland, CA. 

Dick graduated from University of California, Berkeley in June, 1955.

Richard and Sandra were married on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1956.

Dick began his Air Force training in 1956 at the USAF Air Training Command training school in Hondo, Texas. After that he was stationed with his wife, Sandra, at the Vance Air Force Base, in the 3575th Pilot Training Wing of the United States Air Training Command in Enid, Oklahoma. He was awarded with a certificate of 1000 hours of flying time, 500 hours as an Instructor Pilot in the Air Training Command on November 20, 1959.

Dick's parents moved to a house on Champlain Avenue in Cloverdale, California. I believe Dick was already in the Air Force at this time. Dagmar was a teacher at Jefferson Elementary School which was on the other side of their backyard fence.

When Dick came home to visit, he said he would "buzz" over the house in Cloverdale in his jet fighter and land at Hamilton Air Force Base. Of course it would be extremely loud and Dick's dad, Bill, would know to drive down to the base to pick him up.

Dick and Sandra lived in Sacramento where he was a bank manager, near downtown and near a golf course. He told me this when I asked if he played golf. He said he played a lot of golf when he lived in Sacramento.

Dick and Sandra lived in at least two different homes in San Francisco. One home was near Lake Merced and the other in the sky rises on the Embarcadero. Dick received his MBA in Finance from Golden Gate University. He was Vice President of Crocker bank at #1 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. 

Dick and Sandra moved to Healdsburg, California where they opened a restaurant. At the "Charcuterie" on Healdsburg Ave., everyone in town came to know Dick and Sandra.

We would all love to hear some good stories about Dick in Healdsburg!