Richard Dexter

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