Colleagues say Heil was dedicated
By KALEY CONNER
Longtime Fort Hays State University professor and civic volunteer Richard "Dick" Heil died Saturday in Kansas City, Kan., at the age of 68.
A memorial service is planned in his honor at 11 a.m. Saturday at the FHSU Robbins Alumni and Endowment Center, followed by a 6 p.m. celebration at Fox Pavilion, 1202 Main.
Heil retired from the university in 2006 after 41 years, serving as a professor of political science and department chair.
He will be greatly missed by former students and the FHSU faculty, Provost Larry Gould said.
"It's a sad day for Fort Hays State because of Dick's passing," Gould said. "He was dedicated to Fort Hays, but even more importantly, he was dedicated to the study of politics."
That is part of Heil's legacy, and what his many former students likely are to remember about him, Gould said.
Heil was on a recruiting committee that brought Gould to FHSU in 1981 as a faculty member in the political science department. Gould then moved into Heil's childhood home when he relocated to Hays. They became friends, and Gould remembers Heil was passionate about his family, teaching American government and playing golf.
"I think Dick was a quiet, rather reserved person most of the time," Gould said. "But his enthusiasm for using education to help other people's lives was pretty clear in terms of the way Dick operated."
He also was an active volunteer with the Hays Optimist Club for the last 10 years, serving both as president and on the board of directors, said Gary Wentling, another Optimist Club member.
"He was just the type of guy that you'd want as a friend," Wentling said. "He always was there and would volunteer and contribute his time."
A native of St. Louis, Heil earned an undergraduate degree at FHSU and returned to teach after earning his master's and doctorate degrees. It was during his time attending school in Hays that he became acquainted with Rose Arnhold, and the friendship lasted 50 years.
Now an associate professor of sociology at FHSU, Arnhold worked with Heil for many years, during the course of which both were promoted to department chairs.
"He will be missed by students across the United States," she said. "That's how much respect Dick carried. His students really loved him."
Heil's survivors include his wife, Gerry, two sons, three step-children and many grandchildren.
"I've never seen anyone love his grandkids more," Arnhold said. "He was certainly a loving father, a loving grandpa, and he was a very good friend."
Memorials are suggested to the University of Kansas endowment association for neurology research regarding Myasthenia gravis. For more information or to view a slideshow of Heil's life, visit www.fhsu.edu/currentevents/Heil_Dick/.