Richard “Dick” C. West

Richard C. “Dick” West died Jan. 15, 2009. He was born on January 3, 1922 in Rochester, N.Y. After high school he went to Springfield College, Springfield, Mass., to play baseball and pursue a degree in physical education. His education was interrupted by 4 yrs. of service as a medic in WWII from 1942-1946.

Returning from WWII he spent two years with the St. Louis Browns baseball team and finished his degree in 1948. He was the Otterbein athletic director from 1948-1955. During his time at Otterbein, he was also a Phys. Ed. Faculty member, head basketball coach (1952-55), and baseball coach (1952-53).

Dick received his master’s in Physical Education at The Ohio State University. He accepted a teaching, coaching, and guidance counselor position at Fairmont HS in Kettering, Ohio from 1956 to his retirement in 1982.

He earned his PHD on divinity at age 88, published “Reviving Small Churches”, and published several articles, one of which is in the Library of Congress. In 2016 he was inducted to the Otterbein Hall of Fame.

Dick is survived by his wife Nan, and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren.