Richard SCHILLING

SCHILLING Richard J. "Dick', flamboyant entrepreneur, supper club and nightclub operator. At age 13 Dick Schilling and his twin brother, Bob sold eggs door to door and parlayed that venture into an empire of the nation's finest supper clubs and nightclubs. In fact, the Beverly Hills Supper Club was once billed as ""The Nation's Showplace.' The long-time Northern Kentucky resident died at age 79 in his Ft. Lauderdale home where he retired in 1987. One of Dick's oldest and dearest friends, Phil Sousa, recalls how Dick would always give the ""Panhandlers' downtown a $5.00 bill; explaining, ""You'll never know where you'll be someday!' His generous nature, flamboyant personality and unique innovative skills combined to create one of the most successful and respected club operations in the country. According to Lou Alter, a fellow nightclub owner and longtime friend, ""People would always go out of their way to visit a Dick Schilling nightspot. His places rivaled those of Nw York and Las Vegas.' Dick wanted to create places to see and where people could be seen.' Dick Schilling learned about cooking, purchasing, pricing and cleanliness when he was sent to run the Officers Club in Seymour Johnson Field in North Carolina during WW II. He wa 22. After being discharged from the military, Dick took over the commissary at Newport Steel Co. where he worked seven days a week for 19 years. He then proceeded to buy milk plants in Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis and also built a restaurant and 135 room motel in Ft. Mitchell, KY. In 1958, with his brother Bob, he bought the Lookout House. In 1970 Dick sold the Lookout House and bought the Beverly Hills Supper Club, just a few weeks later. Both supper clubs, with their high-profile entertainment and fine food, became the two most famous nightspots in the country. In 1979 Dick and his three sons constructed the January's/Oodles restaurant and nightclub complex on 2nd Street in downtown Cincinnati. After two years of uccessful operation they opened the ""Islands', a glamorous floating restaurant resort on the shore of Newport, KY that seated over 350 people. Dick Schilling retired in 1987 and with his wife, moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In addition to his wife, Marie Theresa Schilling (nee Fleck) of Ft. Mitchell he is survived by his three sons; Richard J. Schilling of Boca Raton, FL, Ronald J. Schilling of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Raymond ""Scott' Schilling of Covington, KY. Also survived by two grandsons Ronald J. Schilling Jr. and John Ross Schilling, both of Ft. Mitchell. Visitation Sunday at St. Agnes Church, 1680 Dixie Hwy., Ft. Wright, KY 41011 from 3-7 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial 11:30 A.M., Monday at St. Agnes Church. Burial St. Mary Cemetery. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Homes are handling the arrangements. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospital, 3229 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3095 or the American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Hwy., Suite 2A, Florence, KY 41042.