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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Nov '95
Richard Lloyd Dresser No. 15544 Class of 1946
Died 4 November 1994 in Torrance, California, aged 71 years.
Interment: Ashes scattered at sea.
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Dick Dresser was born in Lewiston, Maine, on 7
July 1923. He spent his childhood in Maine and graduated from
Lisbon Falls High School. His sister, Phyllis, recalled, "My
brother joined the National Guard while a junior in high school.
The Guard was called up for duty and my brother wanted to go.
He promised my mother that after his year's duty he would return
and finish his senior year. He did just that." Dick gained
his coveted appointment to West Point to join the Class of 1946
on 1 July 1943.
Cadet life posed no major problems for Dick. Academically,
he not only did well but was able to assist his less talented
classmates. His active duty service helped him in the other phases
of cadet life. One of his roommates, Stan Mattox, recalled: "Dick
was a very quiet and studious person. He was always ready and
able to help me in my studies, and he did much to help me out
of academic trouble. Dick and I both felt that the 'Plebe System'
had gone too far, and we both made every effort to lessen the
harshness on the plebes. We even laid down the law to our third
roommate that our room was 'off limits' for any type of plebe
harassment. I do believe that getting away from West Point for
his pilot training brought out his best qualities, and he seemed
to enjoy all aspects of life much more first class year."
Dick graduated as a second lieutenant pilot in the Army Air Corps.
Dick's first station after graduation was to Williams
Field, Arizona1 where he and the rest of the single engine pilots
took transition training. Following that, he was assigned to
Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, with the 27th Tow Target Squadron.
In 1948 he was selected to attend the University of Michigan,
where he received his master's degree in Physics in 1950. While
at Michigan, he met and married Dorothy E. Simmons at Grand Rapids
on 26 August 1950. After his schooling, the Dressers went to
West Point where Dick taught physics. In 1954, Dick became a
project officer at the Air Force Cambridge Research Center, Massachusetts.
Next the Dressers moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where
Dick served in Headquarters, Air Defense Command. From 1962-64,
he served at the Air Defense Command Field Office, Los Angeles,
California. Dick retired from the Air Force in 1964 to try his
hand at civilian life.
He started his second career with North American
Rockwell in Columbus, Ohio, in the Missiles Division. After a
year, he went with McDonnell Douglas Astronautics, Santa Monica,
California, as executive advisor to the Director of Advanced
Plans and Programs. In 1973 he joined Northrop Corporation Aircraft
Division in Hawthorne, California. As Logistics Support Director
for the T-38 and F-5, Dick retired from Northrop in 1984. He
died of throat cancer on 4 November 1994 and is survived by his
wife; daughter, Diana; two sons, Bill and Mark; and his sister,
Phyllis.
Dick Dresser was a true son of West Point. He never
failed to live up to the words of the motto, Duty, Honor, Country.
Air Force classmate Bert Stringer recalled, "Dick was a
tall, slender and quite handsome man. In today's parlance he
might be described as 'laid back' or 'cool.' I never recall his
showing frustration or becoming flustered to any degree. He was
always one of the first to see humor in any of the adverse situations
we encountered, and he would always get a laugh from us with
his pithy comments. His ability to render such comments with
a straight face, as if he were deadly serious, added to the humor
of the situation. From my point of view, Dick Dresser was a decided
asset to his class, to the U.S. Air Force and to his family.
Dick's unfailing sense of humor is one of the traits
that endeared him to all who came in contact with him. That,
coupled with his honesty, integrity, and sense of duty, made
him a valuable friend to all who were privileged to know him.
His sister Phyllis remembered, "My brother was a great guy,
one you looked up to and you loved his sense of humor."
The Class of 1946 is proud to join Dick Dresser's
family and friends to say "Well Done, Dick; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Dorothy
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