IN MEMORIAM: Richard Nimmons

Born July 26, 1913, in Lincoln, Kansas, Mr. Nimmons retired as vice-president of Pomona College in 1976. For fourteen years he lived in Carmel Valley, California, before moving to Washington in 1990. Prior to serving as vice-president of Pomona College, he was a partner and vice-president of Ivy Lee and T. J. Ross, corporate public relations consultants in New York City for eleven years.

From 1945 to 1950 he was public relations director of the Hawaii Employers Council in Honolulu where he participated in the major post-war labor/management negotiations in the islands. Prior to that, he was a staff associate with the American City Bureau, a professional fund raising organization in Chicago.

From 1980 to 1988 he was president of Carmel Valley Associates, fund raising consultants, and together with his wife, Shirley, provided counsel to many Monterey Peninsula educational and charitable agencies.

Mr. Nimmons served in the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in World War II. He graduated from Pomona College in 1935 and headed the college's news bureau for three years after graduation.

While a resident in Carmel Valley, Mr. Nimmons was active in many Monterey Peninsula civic causes serving as president and board member of the Carmel Foundation; vice-president and treasurer of the Monterey County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and board member, treasurer, and advisory council member of Legal Services for Seniors. For ten years he was a member of the board of the Carmel Valley Property Owners Association and served two terms as its president. He was also an active member of the Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee. In 1988 he was given the "Good Egg" award by the Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his community contributions.

As a resident of Washington State, Mr. Nimmons was active in the civic affairs of LakeLand Village, and the Allyn community. He served for three years as a Red Cross volunteer at Bremerton Naval Hospital in charge of volunteers and was awarded the Edith Miles Distinguished Memorial Award as well as a Congressional certificate. He also served as vice-chairman and member of the Advisory Council of the Area Agency on Aging which serves Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties.

In August, 1938, Mr. Nimmons married Virginia Friedman of San Francisco. The couple had four children, Nancy, John, Susan, and David. Virginia died in June, 1980.

Survivors include his second wife, Shirley W. Nimmons, and family members: Nancy and Roger Miller Green of Miami, Florida; John and Barbara Nimmons of Olympia, Washington; Susan and Dan DeJoy of Raleigh, North Carolina; David Nimmons and David Fleischer of Brooklyn, New York; step-sons Myland McRevey, of Cross Plains, Wisconsin; and Dennis McRevey of Carmel, California. Surviving grandchildren are: Jennifer Miller, Ryand and Drew DeJoy, Mariah Nimmons, Matthew McRevey, and Shelby McRevey Mitchell.

Cremation took place at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home, Bremerton, Washington. Memorial services were held at Pomona College September 26, 1996 in Mabel Shaw Bridges Hall of Music. Catharine Grier Carlson '77, Chaplain of the Claremont Colleges, gave the invocation; I Corinthians 13-The College Chapter was read; Ted Gibbens, Vice President Emeritus, Pomona College, George McKelvey, Vice President Emeritus, Harvey Mudd College, and David Alexander, President Emeritus, Pomona College all spoke in remembrance. Pomona College Men's Blue & White sang Torchbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Carmel Foundation, P.O. Box 1050, Carmel, California 93921 or Pomona College, Vice President's Office, Sumner Hall, Claremont, California 91711.