Richard Dan Heywood

Heywood, Richard Dan "Coach"
Richard Dan Heywood passed away peacefully on February 5, 2013 at the age of 75 in Mesa, AZ. He is survived by his wife Julie Ann Heywood, 10 beautiful children, 43 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister JaLene, and brothers Garn, Reed, and Robert. Richard was born in Panguitch, Utah on April 16, 1937. Raised in Cedar City, Utah, Richard was a Utah state champion sprinter and a renowned trumpet player. Professionally, he was a teacher and a coach in Las Vegas and with Mesa Public Schools, spending 27 years at Mesa High School. Richard was committed to his faith and was proud of his family's heritage as western and Mormon pioneers. He spent two years of missionary service in the Western Canadian mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1957-1959. Richard served faithfully in various church assignments. He was most admired as a teacher of the Lord's gospel to people of all ages. Richard attended Brigham Young University on a track scholarship. He had the opportunity to tour Europe and compete as a track athlete; he won awards and honors in the Mountain West and in Europe. Richard was a dedicated coach and was committed to innovation in sports. He invented numerous technologies and methods to try to improve athletic training, having obtained patents for the creation of rhythmic and timed pacers for runners. He also created one of the first high altitude training camps in the United States in Brian Head, Utah. He was published in Runners World and other sports and coaching magazines. He often boasted about his athletes and felt it was the opportunity of a lifetime to be entrusted with mentoring, coaching, and teaching young people. Richard's greatest legacy is his family and the values he dedicated his life too. The Heywood family welcomes friends to attend a viewing and funeral in his honor. February 15th from 6-8pm and the funeral is Saturday February 16th 10:00 am, both at the Church.