Richard (Dick) B. Fry went home to be with the Lord on May 27th, 2026, after suffering a stroke on May 23rd. Dick was born on February 12th, 1923. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2023 at the Brelsford Visitor Center and many of the towns’ people and from beyond came to celebrate the achievement, even though it was on Super Bowl Sunday. Dick was born and grew up in Oroville, California. He started at San Jose State College in 1940, leaving for the Army Air Corps in 1943. He ended up in China serving as an Air Traffic Controller until the end of WWII. He returned to San Jose State, where he met Beatrice Dooley, who had just gotten out of the Marine Corps. After graduating, they were married. Dick worked for United Press International in the San Francisco, Reno, and Olympia bureaus, then off to Chehalis, Washington to be editor of the Chehalis, Advocate newspaper. Bea was women’s editor. While in Chehalis, Jim, Kristen, and Kevin were born.

In 1952, Dick and the family moved to Pullman and Dick was editor of the alumni publication, The Pow Wow. In 1957, he became Sports Information Director. He travelled extensively throughout the United States as he would go ahead a week before all the Cougar Football away games to promote the game with all media outlets. He wrote press books for all the sports. In 1970 until he retired in 1985, Dick was Manager of the Washington State News Bureau. In 1971, his wife Bea died of cancer. In 1977, Dick married Marilyn Johnson, the widow of Spokane Daily Chronicle sports columnist, Bob Johnson. Dick and Marilyn travelled to Europe several, times, Australia, and to China. In 2021 Marilyn passed.

If there was a poster boy for Washington State, it was Dick Fry. He was beloved by athletes, coaches, and staff. He corresponded on a daily basis with friends, including War buddies, and family and a letter written was mailed the same day. He was part of a local coffee group for decades until his hearing got so bad, which he probably started losing during the War working in the flight tower with no ear protection.

His children were very aware that their Dad never boasted or sought awards, but the awards and recognition came anyway. He received several War medals. In 1984 Dick received an Honorary Alumnus Award from Washington State, was inducted into the Inland Empire Sports Hall of Fame, Scroll of Honor in 2007. In 2009 Dick was inducted into the Washington State Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2017 the City of Pullman Walk of Fame. In 2023, he was elected to the Oroville High School Hall of Fame. (Dick said probably because he had turned 100. ) In 2024, Washington State Senior Director of Athletics, Bill Stevens, renamed the Athletic Communications Suite at Bohler Gym to the Richard B. “Dick” Fry Athletic Communications Suite, Writer, Historian, Mentor.

In 1990 Washington State asked Dick to write a book celebrating its 100th year. It was titled The Crimson and the Gray: 100 Years with the WSU Cougars. In 2024, Dick with the help of Pat Caraher and Rod Commons self-published 101 OLD RE-FRY’D Cougar Tales. Just to be released is his final book that he finished a month ago, 1105 Days to China and Back Home/ My WWII Story.

Preceding him in death besides his two incredible wives, were Marilyn’s sons, Jack and Rick, his parents James and Alberta Fry, sisters Beryl and Beth, and brother Jerry. He is survived by his children Jim (Raylene), Kristen (David), Kevin (Flo), stepchildren Linda (Dick), Diane (Joe), Greg (Debbie), and Mike. In addition, there are countless grandchildren, great and great, great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

Special thanks to caregivers Joyce, Jenipher, and Judy for the care and support they provided while Dick continued living in the home he moved into in 1956. In 2025, just before his 102nd birthday he moved into Miss Dorothy’s Adult Family Home in Pullman, and was wonderfully cared for by owners Nii and Sherry Ankrah. Hospice cared for Dick, for many months and was also wonderfully cared for by RN Abigail Westra, Chaplain Jim Wicks, and Volunteers Steve Hines and Jeff Pietila. In lieu of a service a website is set up by grandson, James Richard Fry, for family and friends to share their stories and memories of Dick. Go to link: https://dick-fry-cougar-legend.netlify.app/

Corbeill Funeral Home of Pullman, WA has been entrusted with arrangements.