Sad day for Penton folks.

[Paul Danik]

I am sorry to report that Richard Sanders passed away today, Monday May 28, 2007. I am glad that Richard is no longer suffering, but he will be surely missed.

Richard was from Houston, Texas and from what I was told he was the largest Penton dealer back in the day. Richard had a number of dealerships in the Houston area, I had a chance to visit a couple of them with him a few years back and they were all large, well run operations.  Richard always gave John Penton credit for getting him in the motorcycle business with a Penton dealership.

Richard attended the Penton Day meeting this past Feb. with his good friend Tommy Garrett and I am really glad we had that chance to visit. If any of you have any rememberances of Richard or anything to add to what I have said please feel free to do so.  

Paul

From L to R, Jack Penton, Richard Sanders

[firstturn]

I will try and keep everyone updated on the arrangements.  I feel that Richard will probably be buried in Mississippi, which is where his Family moved from when he was very young.  Your Prayers for his Family is appreciated.

Ron Carbaugh

[jimpal]

Although I did not know Richard well, I did meet him and talked to him several times way back in the 70s. The 72 Jackpiner I own was bought in his shop, I believe, it was on Bellaire Ave. in west Houston. I am so sorry to hear about his death. I was hoping to get to see him again in October in Arkansas..I will be praying for his loved ones.


Jim from Texas
1972 Jackpiner
1974 Hodaka Dirt Squirt

[Lew Mayer]

God bless him and his family.

Lew Mayer

[Rocket]

I met Mr. Sanders for the first time at the February POG meeting, we had a nice visit and he talked to me like we had been friends for years, very nice gentleman and will be sadly missed.  I wish I would have met him years ago.  It is great how motorcycle's have brought so many nice people into my life.
Rod Gorzny

[Doug Wilford]

Richard, may you rest in peace and may God Bless you
and your family.   You will not be forgotten as a friend,
business associate or world traveler.
With love.
Doug and Dot

[rob w]

I'll always remember Richard, and the way he enjoyed VMD/Mid-Ohio. Year after year - he and Captain Don cruising up and down the lanes of the swapmeet in their golf cart.
 Together, Richard and Don were a fixture at Mid-Ohio's swap, with base camp being Pentonville of course.
  I remember last year, Richard wanted to buy an old AMA magazine I had - we must have haggled over it's price for 15 minutes. Thinking back now, my gosh that was fun - I really enjoyed his company, and his sense of humor. I only know Richard from that one weekend of the year, for the past six years. But I'm very glad to have shared those moments with him.
 Yes, this is truely a sad day. This one hurts. Rest in peace my friend.

bob wardlow

[454MRW]

I met Richard and Tommy at Mid-Ohio last year also when they pulled up to the spot in their golf cart that I shared with Dave McCullough. Tommy got off and came over and the three of us talked quite a while. Richard gave me one of his shirts with his name on it and tried to convince me that Tommy was Ron Carbaugh, and I guess he tried that with a few others that day. Although I had not met Ron in person yet at that time, I knew that Ron wasn't going to be able to make it to Mid-Ohio, but it was a hoot anyway. Richard was quite a kidder and will be fondly remember and missed by many, that I am sure. God speed Richard. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[Paul Danik]

Richard Stanley Sanders    
RICHARD STANLEY SANDERS, born June 9, 1944 to Randall and Vivian Sanders in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, passed away May 28, 2007 in Houston, Texas. He was the grandson of William and Mary Frances Sanders and Gilmore and Leola McBride. Richard was raised in the Houston Heights, graduating from Reagan High School in 1962, and the University of Mississippi in 1967. Richard is survived by his sister, Mary Frances Sanders Greenlaw; brother-in-law, Rick Greenlaw; nephew, Josh Greenlaw, and a large extended family of employees and friends. Richard owned and operated Wild West Honda in Katy, Texas and Cycle Shack North in Conroe, Texas. He was a life member of the American Motorcycle Association and the National Rifle Association. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. As a former Eagle Scout, Richard supported the Boy Scouts of America, as well as a multitude of charitable and religious organizations. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at Heights Funeral Home. The funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 31, 2007 in the Chapel of Heights Funeral Home, where friends will be invited to share their memories in celebration of Richard's life. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard's memory may be made to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030.
 

[Jack Penton]

Richard was one of those rare persons that aquired friends as he went thru life that will remain friends forever. The Richard I new was more modest than most and quiet but conversational and always a pleasure to be with. I will miss you Richard as will all of the multitude of friends you made through out your life.

Jack

PS Paul thanks for the photo.

[Paul Danik]

I am pretty sure that Richard at one time worked for Edison Dye and even stayed at his home.  I remember Richard telling how Edison would work the gate of the early Inter-Am events that he promoted and how Edison's trunk would be litterly filled with cash from the folks paying to get in, not stacked and bundled, just stuffed in.
He also told how Edison bought used Army surplus sewing machines that had been used to make parachutes during the war and used them to make the early Husky / Viking jerseys. Edison Dye also just recently passsed away, on his 89th birthday, May 10.

I will surely miss the long conversations with Richard, we could talk for several hours at a time and he always had the most interesting stories to tell, he sure was right in the middle of a lot of events that shaped our sport.

During one conversation he mentioned how the early Steel Tankers had a second serial number on their swingarms, that was the first time that anyone ever mentioned that fact that I am aware of.

We lost a great friend and a lot of knowledge.

Paul

[ABORN]

I'm nearly at a loss for words at this time but I must say that I have lost a truly great friend and I will certainly miss all of the great conversations that we always had at Vintage Days as well as some pretty lengthy ones on the telephone.  Richard has called me on Christmas morning for the last several years and I will surely miss that too.  Richard shared several things with me during a long conversation 4 weeks ago Saturday night that I will never forget.  In my book, he had a lot of good character and character is what you are, not what people think you are.  Godspeed my friend.  Al Born