Richard Ronald Van Vacter, b. 1933

While in France Richard was selected along with a group of 30 from the Air Force base in Bordeaux to attend the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway.  Because he borrowed a pair of skies and slid down a small slope he always told how he skied at the 1952 winter Olympics.

Elected Local Chairman of Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) Local 156 effective October 1, 1960.  Elected General Secretary Treasurer of AT&SF General Committee of BRS effective January1, 1961. Served in those two offices until January 1, 1971 when he assumed the office of General Chairman of the same committee.

During the 1960s he worked as a volunteer in the Barstow, CA Westside Little League, serving as coach, umpire, Vice President and President.  Finally severed as District Administrator for several of the Mojave Desert leagues.

Entered into adult high school classes in the fall of 1971 and graduated from Barstow High in June of 1972.

Was elected to a local community board where he served a four term.  Was active in the Democratic Party in Barstow, CA where he held the office of Vice Chairman for two years.

BRS moved his office of General Chairman to Denver, CO effective September 1, 1977.  Served as a member of the Board of Trustees BRS national level for 9 years.  Served on the Board of Trustees of the AT&SF Hospital Association at Los Angeles, CA, and Topeka, Kansas during his term as BRS General Chairman.

Selected as Chief Executive Officer of the Employees' Benefit Association at Topeka, Kansas effective August 1, 1991.  Served at that position until he retired on July 1, 1996.