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Richard "Dick" Dexter 1919-2002
Richard Larkin "Dick" Dexter, 82 (born October
2, 1919), Prairie Village, KS, retired advertising executive and more
recently, local public radio volunteer producer/announcer died September
26, 2002, at Research Medical Center. Private burial. Memorial services
will be ? Friday, November 29, at the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641
Mission Road, Prairie Village. An opportunity to meet the family at the
church will follow the services. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
contributions to the Laura Larkin Dexter Scholarship, School of Nursing,
University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2220 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO
64108.
Mr. Dexter was born in Kansas City and lived in the area
his entire life, the last 52 years, since February 10, 1950 in Prairie
Village. A member of Village Presbyterian since 1951, he had served as
ordained elder, ordained deacon, co-leader of the adult bible class (now
known as the Discovery class) for over a quarter-century, and member of
its hunger committee of the Heartland Presbytery.
He began as a copywriter for the old Potts-Turnbull
advertising agency, joining the Interstate Securities Company (later ISC
Financial Corporation) in 1959, as advertising director. He retired as
vice-president in 1984. He wrote, produced and announced "The
Saturday Afternoon Swing Club," featuring the music of the 20s,
30s, and 40s, for public radio station KCUR-FM. This retirement project
lasted for over eight years.
After graduation from Northeast high school, he attended
Missouri Valley College and was graduated from the School of Journalism,
University of Missouri-Columbia. He was a member of the first Reserve
Midshipman's School, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, May,
1941. Later, he was a graduate of the Reserve Course, Naval War College,
Newport, RI.
As an alumnus of M.U., he belonged to its Jefferson Club,
its national and Kansas City alumni groups, the Tiger Scholarship Fund
and the Kansas City Tiger Club, and was a contributor to the library's
endowment.
In his 26 years in the Naval Reserve, Mr. Dexter was a
veteran of World War II and of the Korean conflict, and retired as a
Commander. In WWII, he served in USS Nicholson (DD442), in USS
DeHaven (DD727) (plank owner), and as Officer-In-Charge, Joint Army-Navy
Communications Center, Saipan; in the Korean conflict, as Assistant for
Public Information to the Reserve Coordinator, Twelfth Naval District,
San Francisco. In Kansas City, he was Commanding Officer of
Surface Division 9-121 and of Naval Reserve Officers' School 9-8. He
represented the organized Reserve on the Chamber of Commerce Military
Affairs committee.
For 22 years he was a Democratic precinct committeeman in
Ward One, Prairie Village. He was member of the executive committee of
the Johnson County Central Democratic committee, of the Third
Congressional District Democratic committee and of the Kansas State
Democratic committee.
A Chiefs Red Coater from 1963, he served 17 years as a
vice-president/director of the Chiefs Club, fan organization. He was the
first to suggest the use of the "Wolf Pack" concept for the
season ticket campaign of 1965, the success of which assured the
retention in Kansas City of the Chiefs and the American Football League.
He also named the 101 Committee and its annual "Salute to the Men
of Professional Football" black-tie dinner and served on its
working committee through its first 20 years. He was an "Honorary
Coach" in the NAIA program at its annual national basketball
tournament for 14 years. And he earned a Gold Coat from the old Kansas
City Kings NBA team. He was an early-day member of the Kansas City
Sports Commission.
Mr. Dexter's volunteer activities included: Board of
Governors, Johnson County YMCA during its building period (chairman);
Heart of America United Fund (district supervisor, publicity committee);
Prairie Village Youth committee, later changed to Community Services
committee (16 years); Wayne Miner Community Diner; Marr Sound Archives-UMKC;
40 Years Ago Column club, Tin Can Sailor's Association, Kansas City
chapter, Public Relations Society of American (president, director),
Newhouse, Len Dawson Scholarship committee (chairman), Live and Learn
youth home (director); Nursing Heritage Foundation (director); Mayor's
Kansas City Jazz Commission; Elmwood Cemetery Association (director);
Starlight Theater volunteer public relations group known as "Paton's
Retreads," and long-term financial support to the Southern Poverty
Law Center, Truman Library Associates, Lupus Foundation of America, City
Union Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Network Trust (now with Truman
Medical Center), Women in Military Service Memorial, KCPT-TV (Channel
19), Crosslines Cooperative Council, Heart-spring, Metropolitan Lutheran
Ministry, American Civil Liberties Union and the Northeast Alumni
Association.
His wife of 50 years, Martha Perrin Dexter, died in
January 1996. He is survived by sons, Edwin T. Dexter, Leawood and
Patrick J. Dexter, Arlington, VA; and daughters, Marjorie Jean
Podzielinski, The Woodlands, TX and Mrs. Mary Larkin Dexter, Oakland,
CA; and seven grandchildren, Sarah Larkin (Sally), Julie Jean, David
William, Melanie Marie, Catherine Elizabeth, Nancy List and Martha
Elizabeth.
A note received with the above obituary from his son: My dad
met my mom in Bath, Main so being a plank owner was a very important
moment in his life.
By the time he left the DeHaven, he had 32 months on board destroyers.
He was very unimpressed with the Captain and left by mutual agreement, at
best Recently, he received a brass ashtray, a memento intended for the
officers at the launch, confiscated by the Captains wife to give as gifts
to her friends. His niece found it in an antique store in Arizona. The
receipt of the long overdue souvenir gave him real pleasure in his last
months. Ed Dexter |
