William Richards

Bill was not only an inspiration for me but also a mentor, Canada needs more Bill Richard, rest in peace

Tim and family,
With sadness, I wish the Richards family my sincere condolences. Mr. Richards was a true blessing to Calgary and the World!

I met Bill during the campaign to elect Jean Chretien as Liberal Party leader in 1990. Although I knew nothing about his previous career with Dome I immediately liked his focused attitude and his bluster which carried a lot of arguments during the halcyon days leading up to the Calgary convention. Even after several years gone by I am saddened to learn of his passing.

Dear Iris and Family,

I was sorry to hear that Bill had passed away. Nora and I offer you our sincere condolences.

Bill lived a very full life. We got to know each other well and I liked him a lot.

Take care of your self Iris.

Your friend,

Dear Bill,

I would have liked to see you one last time,
I had hoped we would celebrate Christmas together as a big family.
This was not meant to be; it seems fate had written a different script – adding a different melody.

So I want to use this blank page, to pay my respects to you. To tell you, I love you too. I have over the passed years grown fond of you. I have learnt to love Canada and looking at it with your eyes. I will feel bereft of you at my mothers side. –

I have learned to respect you - not for what you have done or where supposed to be – an icon in the Canadian petroleum industry - .

It is for who you are and your life philosophy, your kindness, humour, and real sense of what being alive was meant to be.

I feel an extension towards death, like a longing to hold out my hand, and reach over to the other side of eternity, where tiny waves touch the shore noiselessly.

I picture you, standing there, waiting for the ferryboat to crossover to the other shore, contemplating relentlessly a distinct patch of rainbow coloured water.

This is exactly where this world’s pollution has carried itself over to the in-between – leaving a colourful display of sun light and prisma colours, dancing in distorted forms on the tiny wave, where an oil film forms on its surface, as if carrying a message of joy and decay.

I can see a tiny little smile creep into the back of your eyes, growing stronger in power and radiance, as it is reflected in the wrinkles on the sides, until it finally settles to stay, in a little curled up smile around your mouth and an inaudible chuckle to yourself, whilst you take in the beauty and the message of the rainbow coloured display.

Your eyes, alert, follow its movements and the distortions of its shape as the ripples of the approaching ferryboat tear at the oil patch, making it twist into an ovoid shape ; tearing at it again ripping it, as the evening sun tints its colours an even deeper shade of purple, golden bluish and green.

I am grateful and feel privileged to have known you.

On this day where goodbyes take a more final form, I am thinking of all of you. And I want to let you know that I feel with you.

Dear Iris , dear Fred, Tim , Bill and Ysaan all my love and thoughtfulness goes out to you.

Kai

To All of you:
As a child growing up in Varsity with Bill jr. WER was a father to me who treated me as he did his own children. The opportunities he allowed us all whether it was working on the farm, playing in the fields or swimming in the backard, have helped form who I am as an adult, for that I can never express my gratitude enough.
This man through much adversity ,as a parent, always took the time to make sure Billy and his friends had it all. Though time has put distance between us ,my life is effected daily by something I learned saw or heard while "hangin around at the Richards place"
To WER Fred and Tim - Thank you
To Billy- I miss you and think of you constantly
To Iris- My condolences WER was one of the best people i've ever met.
With Respect
I Love you all.

Hi Tim,
My dearest sympathies to you, Fred, and Billy in this trying time. I'll talk to you soon.
Graham

Mrs. Richards:

I am so sorry to learn that Bill has passed. Through our Faith, we know that Bill, while he is no longer here with us on the Earth, he continues on, albeit mysteriously, on his amazing journey in an Everlasting Life.

Bill took me under his arm when I, as Wood Gundy's oil analyst for Dome in the mid-1970's, began to write reports on Dome. After my visit to Galveston in May 1976 and then in a one on one report back to him in his office in Calagry, saying that the CanMar ships would indeed, in our opinion, drill in the Beaufort in the fall of 1976, my professional life took on a life of its own and my world changed forever and for the better.

It was soon after that Bill gave me my nick name '"Silver Tongued Dragon" that I only learned, some 30 years later was from him when Don Gardner told me that he had been in a meeting where Bill had made that declaration. It was in fact given to me by Bill. He was a giant.

The world of Canadian oil and gas is sad today and shares your loss. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.

God Bless you.

December 18, 2008
Dear Iris,
It was with a great sense of loss when I heard of Bill death.
I wanted to let you know that you have my greatest sympathy, and my heart is truly saddened.
My sincere thoughts and prayers are with you.
With my deepest sympathy,

Your sincerely,
Tony Qian
Shanghai Tonyrace management Co.,Ltd, PR OF CHINA

December 18, 2008
Dear Iris,
It was with a great sense of loss when I heard of Bill death.
I wanted to let you know that you have my greatest sympathy, and my heart is truly saddened.
My sincere thoughts and prayers are with you.
With my deepest sympathy,

Your sincerely,
Tony Qian
Shanghai Tonyrace management Co.,Ltd, PR OF CHINA

To: The William E. Richards Family

WER will forever be remembered by me for his unique character that translated into one of the outstanding relationships in my life.
Although the interactions were primarily directed from a commercial perspective, a strong personal relationship evolved.
WER was an agent for personal excellence – I believe this was the experience of many.
I shall always carry warm and affectionate memories of Bill.

Deep and kind regards,

Dear Iris,
My sincerest condolences to you and the family at this sad time. May all the wonderful memories and good times with Bill give you comfort and see you through.
With thoughts and prayers,
Erika Janz

Dear Iris and Fred,
Bill was a wonderful example of what it takes to lead a full and rewarding life. He never gave up and was a real trooper up to the last, even leading business meetings by phone from his hospital bed!
His contributions to Canada were manifold and we will all miss him greatly. All our condolences. Stuart & Irene

It was with great saddness that I learned of Bill's passing. Our sympathies go out to all his family. Having worked for Dome for a number of years, I was priviledged to have been associated with such a dynamic and honourable man.

Dear Fred; I was so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope that the great memories you have of your dad will carry you and your family through this time of sorrow.

December 18, 2008
Dear Iris,
It was with a great sense of loss when I heard of Bill death.
I wanted to let you know that you have my greatest sympathy, and my heart is truly saddened.
My sincere thoughts and prayers are with you.
With my deepest sympathy,

Your sincerely,
Tony Qian
Shanghai Tonyrace management Co.,Ltd, PR OF CHINA

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Bill is still living in my memories.
He is the greatest and wisest man I ever had the chance to meet.
Like all these men of great talent, he also was a humble person, with a great sense of humour.
For having being invited several time as a family member, I can also testify how happy and lucky Bill was to have such a great family: I'm thinking of Iris, and Fred first, but also many others from the Richards Family.
My last words will be for them: Be strong and take care, Bill really loved all of you.

Dear Iris:
May time do its quiet work, bringing comfort to your heart.
He is at peace now and now you also have peace.
I'm always there for you.
Love Anne Stollbert

I had the pleasure of working for Dome and WER from 1976 until 1982. Although I was a relatively junior member of the engineering staff, I always presented my projects directly to him and other members of senior management. This accountability has followed me through my career and for that I am grateful. His vision and commitment will be missed.