Richard McCarty

Richard "Rich" Franklin McCarty, age 57, passed away peacefully on January 28th, 2026, at Audubon Hospital, surrounded by family and friends, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Rich was born on March 9th, 1968, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Ave Maria McCarty and Olney "Mac" McCarty. He shared the last 40 years of his life with his high school sweetheart, Jill, whom he married in September 1993. A proud graduate of St. Xavier High School, Rich went on to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Louisville and later his MBA from Sullivan University.

After graduation, Rich served in various management roles at UPS Flight Group, Greater Louisville Ink and was appointed CEO/Executive Director of Kentucky Industrial Development Council. He went on to build a distinguished career at American Commercial Barge Line, where he served as Senior Director of Marketing, Grain and Fertilizer. In 2023, Rich received the highest honor in his industry when the M/V Richard McCarty was christened during a boat dedication ceremony. The vessel continues to serve as a workhorse, transporting liquid and dry cargo along the Illinois, Ohio, and Upper Mississippi Rivers.

He received the Kentucky Colonel award and was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, where he previously served as Parish Council president. He was an avid University of Louisville sports fan and enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, cooking, and sharing a good bourbon with friends. Among those closest to him, he was known as a talented practical joker with a gift for creativity and attention to detail - evident in the annual themed Christmas parties he so carefully planned.

To know Rich was to love him. He was the definition of a true gentleman, and his greatest joy came from providing his wife and his girls with a beautiful life-an accomplishment he far surpassed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Olney "Mac" McCarty.

Richard is survived by his wife, Jill Hamilton McCarty; his daughters, Mallory Mankowski (John) and Miranda McCarty; his mother, Ave Maria McCarty; his sister, Tina Doran (Carl); his nieces, Hailey, Brooke, and Kendal Doran; his mother-in-law, Carolyn VonderHaar, and father-in-law, Richard Hamilton.

Rich's funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1920 Newburg Road, with interment of ashes to follow in Cave Hill Cemetery. His memorial visitation will be from 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Tuesday at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road.

Please consider making a donation to the Norton Children's Hospital Foundation to support pediatric oncology in Rich's honor. Gifts can be made at helpnortonchildrens.com.