Richard King III

Richard King III Richard King III (Dick) passed away peacefully on Friday, June 9, 2006. He was born May 30, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri, and was a direct descendent of Captain Richard King of South Texas. Dick was raised in Edinburg, Texas, by his mother and father, Marie Sullivan King and Richard King Jr. He enjoyed working cattle and hunting with his family on their ranches, the Santa Fe and La Puerta. Prior to his college education, Dick attended Texas Military Institute, the Phillips Exeter Academy, and the Woodberry Forrest School. He graduated from Princeton University in 1953 with a degree in political science and from Columbia University in 1957 with an MBA in Finance. He served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant from 1953 to 1955. Dick spent 43 years in the banking industry in Corpus Christi, following in the footsteps of the distinguished career of his grandfather, Richard King Sr. He retired as Chairman of the Board of Bank of America in December 2003. Dick was a leader in community service and participated in numerous civic organizations. He was a member of Corpus Christi Downtown Rotary Club; a founding trustee of the Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservational Award Trust; Chairman of Christus Spohn Development Foundation where he founded the very successful Christus Spohn Lyceum; and past Chairman Board of Governors of the Art Museum of South Texas. Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Corpus Christi Area Economic Development Corporation; past President and Advisory Director of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce; Board Member of Corpus Christi Downtown Management District; Advisory Board Member of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute; Chairman of the Corpus Christi Advisory Board of the Nature Conservancy; and member of the Texas State Aquarium Development Council. Dick was a member of the Corpus Christi Country Club; Corpus Christi Yacht Club; Corpus Christi Town Club; Pine Valley Golf Club; the Argyle Club; and Champions Hills Golf Club in North Carolina. Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence Shinkle King (Sissy). He is survived by his children, Richard (Rebecca) King IV, James Harrison (Tammy) King, Kathryn Marie King; and his grandchildren, Haley Marie and Harrison King; along with his step-children, Lica (Marc) Layton, Benjamin (Nancy) Eshleman III, Amy (Doug) Ryder and their children, Kipp and Alice Layton, Katherine and Margaret Eshleman, and Sarah and Elizabeth Ryder. Dick was an avid golfer and quail hunter. He enjoyed entertaining his friends and family on the ranch in Hebbronville. His love of people and terrific sense of humor, especially Julio stories, were legendary. Dick and Sissy shared a great love of many Labrador Retrievers, including Pete, Belle, and Chula. The family would like to express gratitude to those who took special care of him, Gary Acuna, Diane Flores, and Esmeralda Gonzalez. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Christus Spohn Development Foundation; The Nature Conservancy; and the ALS South Texas Chapter. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, June 12, 2006, at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard. Pallbearers include Gary Acuna, Jack Cram, Charlie DeCou, Jerry Gates, Mac Sterett, Alan Stoner, Dave West and John Zerr. Honorary pallbearers will be Jonathon Calvert, Richard Calvert, Jervis Finney, Frank Harris, Mac Harris, Rogelio Hinojoso (Indio), B.D. Holt, Don Jackson, Hal Kelly and Bob Rowling. Seaside Funeral Home, 4357 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, 361-992-9411.