G. William Richards
Encyclopedia
G. William "Bill" Richards (December 25, 1918 – November 30, 2005) was an American
Latter-day Saint composer and organist.
Richards was the son of Stayner Richards
and Jane Taylor.
As a young man, Richards served as a missionary
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Eastern States
Mission
. He was transferred to the California Mission to serve as organist of the church's exhibit at the San Francisco World's Fair.
Richards served in the United States army during World War II
. He was a chaplain's assistant
and carried an organ with him. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge
as well as the liberation of some German death camps.
Richards then studied at the University of California, Berkeley
, the Manhattan School of Music
and Columbia University
. He later was a faculty member at New York University
as well as serving as organist for various non-denominational services.
Richards married his wife Claire Dyreng, who he met while they were both music students in New York, in the Manti Temple in August 1955. They had four children.
Richards later moved with his family to Reno, Nevada
where he served as executive vice-president of the Nevada Division of the American Cancer Society
.
After he retired Richards took courses at Utah Technical College (now Utah Valley University) in building.
Richards served in many positions in the LDS Church including bishop of the Manhattan Ward and a member of the committee that organized the 1985 English-language version of the LDS hymnal
. Among the hymns in that publication with music by Richards is "From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Latter-day Saint composer and organist.
Richards was the son of Stayner Richards
Stayner Richards
Stayner Richards was a Mormon missionary in the United Kingdom and was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1951 until his death....
and Jane Taylor.
As a young man, Richards served as a missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Eastern States
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
. He was transferred to the California Mission to serve as organist of the church's exhibit at the San Francisco World's Fair.
Richards served in the United States army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was a chaplain's assistant
Chaplains assistants
In the US Army Chaplain Corps, Chaplain Assistants provide support to Chaplains. A Chaplain Assistant is part of the Unit Ministry Team and supports UMT programs including worship services...
and carried an organ with him. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
as well as the liberation of some German death camps.
Richards then studied at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He later was a faculty member at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
as well as serving as organist for various non-denominational services.
Richards married his wife Claire Dyreng, who he met while they were both music students in New York, in the Manti Temple in August 1955. They had four children.
Richards later moved with his family to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
where he served as executive vice-president of the Nevada Division of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
.
After he retired Richards took courses at Utah Technical College (now Utah Valley University) in building.
Richards served in many positions in the LDS Church including bishop of the Manhattan Ward and a member of the committee that organized the 1985 English-language version of the LDS hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
. Among the hymns in that publication with music by Richards is "From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise".
Sources
- "Obituary: G. William Richards," Deseret News, December 5, 2005.
- Karen Lynn DavidsonKaren Lynn DavidsonKaren Lynn Davidson is a Latter-day Saint hymnwriter, author and literary critic. Davidson has written widely on the hymns of both The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and of the Community of Christ....
. Stories of Our Latter-day Saint Hymns. (Salt Lake City: Deseret BookDeseret BookDeseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
, 1988) p. 430.