Richard B. Baltz

Richard B. Baltz

Richard B. Baltz died at the age of 90 on May 9, 2021. Richard was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 27, 1930, to Arthur W. Baltz and Ollie Batdorf Baltz. Growing up in East St. Louis during the Depression, Richard began delivering groceries for the neighborhood grocer in the first grade with his twin brother. They later had a paper route and, in their teenage years, were known to make a little and lose a little extra spending money at the pool hall. After graduating high school, they enlisted in the Air Force, where Richard served as a navigator.

Richard pursued higher education while serving in the Air Force, earning a Bachelors' degree at Baylor University and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Arkansas. He taught at several colleges and universities, spending a 24-year tenure at Millsaps College. As Chair of the Economics Department, Richard introduced accounting and business courses and eventually designed and implemented the BBA degree at Millsaps. He was also responsible for introducing computer programming courses at Millsaps and directing two NSF grants providing terminal access to off-campus computers. He served as the director of the Small Business Development Center and Foreign Trade Institute and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve on the District Export Council of Mississippi. Richard co-authored two college textbooks and was awarded Professor Emeritus status upon retirement in 1990. Each year, his exemplary service to Millsaps College is memorialized when the top Economics graduate is presented with the Richard Baltz Award in Economics. Richard's professional legacy is found in the multitude of students and small businesses he helped all over Mississippi and beyond.

Richard retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 1982. He was awarded the Air Force Merit Service Medal and the Mississippi Magnolia Cross for his work as liaison for the Air Force to the Mississippi National Guard Headquarters. He also served as liaison officer for the Air Force Academy in Mississippi.

In retirement, Richard spent his time swimming competitively with the self-named Aqua Codgers, receiving awards at both state and national events because, as he said, he was the oldest one there. He also took up painting and achieved signature status as a juried watercolor artist. Perhaps Richard had the most fun in retirement using his Space-A military benefit to travel worldwide with his wife, Susie, visiting Europe, Russia, China, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Thailand, and Mexico.

A member of St. James' Episcopal Church since 1966, Richard sang in the choir until shortly before his death. He served on the Vestry and designed and implemented the church's first computer-generated budget and financial reporting system.

Richard is survived by his wife of 43 years, Susie (Jenkins) of Jackson; his daughter, Cyndi Hargrove (Tim); his stepchildren: Whit McKinley, Laura Glaze (Chip); Everett McKinley (Tracy); and Sarah McKinley (Ryan Oyer); ten grandchildren: Devin and Ian Hargrove, Currie and Matthew McKinley, Daniel Gallarno, Mason and Gray Glaze, Owen and Luke Oyer; his older brother, Fred; his twin brother, Howard (Sylvia), and a host of nieces and nephews. Richard was a loving and caring husband, father, stepfather, brother, uncle, and Opa, and he was beloved in return.

Funeral arrangements will be held at St. James' Episcopal Church at a date to be determined after it is safer to worship in larger numbers and the choir can sing en masse the music Richard had already chosen. In lieu of floral gifts, Richard requested that contributions be sent to the St. James' Episcopal Church Outreach Program, The Little Samaritan Day School on Millsaps Avenue, or Millsaps College.