Dr. Richard D. Vickrey died on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 following an 18-month battle with lung cancer. He was 74.

Richard was born in Chattanooga, on March 11, 1938. He attended Central High School where he was a band officer and drum major. He graduated in 1956. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chattanooga, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity; a masters degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville; and in 1972 he was awarded a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

He began a long-time career in education at East Ridge Junior High School as a teacher and guidance counselor. He served an internship at Linden Elementary School in Oak Ridge, Tn., while he worked on his masters degree. In 1971 he was selected as principal of the newly-consolidated Norton Elementary School in Norton, Va., where he supervised the consolidation of eight elementary schools into the one new school. In 1976 he left Virginia to become assistant superintendent at the Ft. Benning Dependent School on base at Ft. Benning in Columbus, Ga. He returned to Chattanooga in 1995 to his first passion as a classroom teacher at Hixson Middle School from which he later retired.

During his career in education he taught a variety of subjects, served as guidance counselor, coached a state-championship wrestling team, coached baseball, and served as principal and assistant school superintendent. He was known as an educator who always put the welfare of his students above all else. During his career he received numerous awards for outstanding service.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Ellis and Millie Vickrey and an infant great-nephew Garrison Thurman.

He is survived by a brother, Ed Vickrey (Anita), Ringgold; nieces, Angela Shuster, Kelly Greene and Leslie Blackwell (Steve); nephew Ed Vickrey Jr. (Annette); and a great-niece and three great-nephews.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, May 18, and from 10–11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road.  

Graveside services will be private.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.