Norman Lee Richard, retired professor of biological sciences at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, died Friday, Sept. 25 at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville after a four month illness. He was 73. Richard leaves a 30-year legacy of dedication to excellence in education and commitment to students and colleagues. He joined the Biology Department of then Texas Southmost College in 1969. He continued his teaching at TSC as it entered into a partnership with The University of Texas at Brownsville in the fall of 1992, and later received the special status of professor emeritus. "Professor Richard had a long-term and deep appreciation for the special environmental assets of the border region of the Rio Grande Valley," said Larry Lof, a friend and UTB/TSC biology colleague. "He was never happier then times he was able to be in the field filming." For the last 28 years, Richard served as vice president of the Gorgas Science Foundation and helped develop a science curriculum for students in South Texas and number of award-winning nature documentaries. Among his works are "Riverine Habitat East of Brownsville" and "Last of the Rio Grande," and this spring he wrote several chapters for "El Valle," a new coffee-table book being published by the Gorgas Science Foundation soon. Richard instructed students on habitat studies for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Park Service. He worked extensively, studying and inventorying at the Palo Alto National Battlefield, and the Santa Ana and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuges. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sierra Club and Frontera Audubon Society praised Richard for his efforts in the Boca Chica Beach area, which saved miles of beach and inland parcels from development. Richard wrote extensively about local and regional plants, and he had great love for the college, now a university. "When we were beginning this adventure many, many years ago, I had asked for help in beautifying the campus with plants," said Dr. Juliet V. García, UTB/TSC president. "He obtained over 50 baby Sabal palms from the Sabal Palm Sanctuary, and we planted those palms between Tandy and the former Student Union. Today, they remain as a living testimony to his personal contributions to our students and to his many colleagues over the years." Richard earned his bachelor's degree in biology in 1957 from Illinois State University and a master's degree in biology (zoology emphasis) in 1969 from Sam Houston State University. While at Sam Houston State, he studied the reptiles and amphibians of East, South, and West Texas. He became fascinated by the Texas Brown Snake. He completed additional graduate studies at Duke University Marine Laboratory, Florida State University and Corpus Christi State University. A native of Illinois, Richard was born Dec. 26, 1935. He is survived by his son, André L. Richard of Brownsville, sister, Patricia J. Richard of Arlington Heights, Ill., brother, David P. Richard of Springdale, Ark., and sister, Jeanne of North Vancouver, British Columbia. Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Ubanks of Cisco, Ill., who died in 2000, his parents, George E. Richard and Irene L. Giasson-Richard, and two brothers, Donald F. Richard and George V. Richard. Friends are invited to a memorial service at the Alonzo Building, 510 East St. Charles at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10. A reception will follow the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the Richard family has respectfully requested support for the Norman L. Richard Memorial Scholarship Fund or for the Sunshine Haven Hospice facility, 7105 W. Lakeside Blvd., Olmito, TX 78575. Words of comfort can be sent to the family of Norma Lee Richard at www.thomaegarza.com