Richard Richards (Utah politician)

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Richard Richards (May 14, 1932 – January 30, 2015) was an American political activist from Ogden, Utah. He served as the 51st chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from January 1981 to January 1983, following Bill Brock and preceding Frank Fahrenkopf. He was the first state chairman from Utah to endorse Ronald Reagan for president, doing so in 1976.

Richards grew up in Ogden and joined the U.S. Army, serving as an officer with the 7th Cavalry from 1952 to 1955. While a student at Weber State University, he organized the Junior Republican League. He earned a BA from Weber State University and a JD from the University of Utah.

In his political work, Richards helped campaigns for Douglas R. Stringfellow, Laurence J. Burton, and Henry Aldous Dixon, and later served as a member of the Republican National Committee and as Utah’s party chairman. He lived near Ogden with his wife and was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He died in Ogden at age 82.

Legacy includes the Richard Richards Institute for Ethics at Weber State University, named in his honor. Weber State University also published his autobiography, Climbing the Political Ladder, One Rung at a Time, in 2006. Richards appeared on C-SPAN, reflecting his ongoing involvement in national politics.