Richard LeRoy Chapman, 79, of Centennial, Colorado passed away
unexpectedly on March 31, 2011. Survivors include Marilyn
(Nicholson) Chapman, his loving wife of 55 years, five children:
Dr. Catherine Hoff (Steve) of Brentwood, TN, Robert Chapman of
Watertown, SD, Michael Chapman (Christina) of Bel Air, MD, Stephen
Chapman (Stacey) of Alpharetta, GA, and Amy Johnson (Mark) of
Pearland, TX; sister-in-law June(Maurice) Ayers; numerous step
sisters and cousins; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Richard "Dick" Chapman was born February 4, 1932 in Yankton, SD
to Raymond and Vera Chapman. He graduated Brookings High School in
1950. An avid public speaker, Dick was one of four National Winners
of the "I Speak for Democracy" contest in 1949, as well as a leader
in the Debate and Speech team in high school, earning the State
Championship in 1950. He continued to excel in public speaking
activities at South Dakota State College and became Student Body
VP, graduating in 1954. The following year he attended Cambridge
University (UK) as a Rotary Fellow, and subsequently earned his MPA
(Syracuse Univ. 1958), and PhD (Syracuse Univ. 1967). Dick also
served as a commissioned officer (1955-1957) in the U.S. Army in
Korea and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal at the end of his
active service. Subsequently, Dick was Honorably Discharged as a
Captain in the USAR in 1964. Dick's professional career was devoted
to research in public policy; he authored numerous publications and
was highly regarded in his field, earning the Jefferson Award for
his contributions to the field of Technology Transfer.
Civic and community involvement was a pillar of Dick's life: he
served on both the senior staff of the Government Operations
Committee (1966-1967) and was Staff Director for the Hon. Frank
Denholm (1973-1974) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was
associated with the Brookings Lodge #24 A.F. and A.M. in South
Dakota, the South Dakota State University Foundation (President two
years, many more in leadership), Knights Templar, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Denver Water Board, and as a member of the Citizen's
Budget Committee, he helped found the city of Centennial, CO. He
co-authored God Bless America: Patriotic Fervor or Historic
Reality? His passion for leadership and teaching extended into his
spiritual life at Mission Hills Church (Littleton, CO) and most
recently as an active member at Our Father Lutheran Church in
Centennial, CO. He was active in the Forgotten Treasures ministry,
and he was a supporter of the Denver Seminary.
For details please see www.olingerchapelhill.com;
in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Denver
Seminary.
