In Memory

Richard LaMont

Richard LaMont

By Doug Jenkins-Richard LaMont was a classmate of ours, and I remember being in a couple of classes with him. He was killed in his sophomore year in a motorcycle accident near the 6th Street Underpass, and I remember being greatly affected by his death. I think part of it was because of his now empty empty chair at school. In later years I became a proud friend of his younger brother Doug, not realizing the connection until some time after that. I asked Doug to write a memorial for his brother Richard, and include his words here: In September of 1960, Richard Kent LaMont presented orally to his eighth grade speech class his assigned "Autobiography". In that speech he related the following: "Once when I was about five years old my life almost ended. I and my little friend who lived across the street were playing in his front yard. My mother called me and I was about to cross the street when I saw a car coming. I stopped. Then I decided that I could make it across the street before the car got there. I started across the street and when I was right in the path of the car I tripped and fell. The car was now getting very close and slamming on the brakes. I was sitting on the ground with my back toward the car. When the car came to a complete stop the bumper had pushed my back over to a forty five degree angle. I was lucky that time and I hope I never have a closer call." Which of us, at the age of 13, or at 16, would have thought that our lives would soon come to an end? Yet just a little over three years after Rich read that speech aloud to his class, he would die from injuries suffered in a traffic accident. I know that he would have loved to go on to graduate with the rest of you, to move on to college, to discover whatever passion would define his career, to ride that sleek, powerful motorcycle he drooled over at the Seattle World's Fair earlier that last summer, to start a family and live a long life filled with all the grand experiences life has to offer. I recall two experiences in particular that bring Kent (I always knew him by his middle name) to life in my mind: One day, at the home of Walter Ross, Kent offered me, for no apparent reason, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I was surprised at this random act of kindness toward his kid brother. If I was suspicious of the fact that it had no wrapper, I suppressed the concern, as I was too eager to bite into the morsel before he might reconsider his generosity. I immediately gagged, as the confection tasted exactly like the the bar of soap next to which it had been stored. My expected reaction resulted in side-splitting laughter from both Kent and Walter. The other memory surrounds the period of time when Kent attempted to teach me to operate his motorcycle. I could not get the hang of smoothly releasing the clutch lever and gently giving the old Honda the gas in just the right measure. I killed the poor bike time after time, wondering when Kent would give up on me in frustration and leave the problem child to someone else. Patiently, gently he continued to coach and encourage me until I at long last succeeded. His calm support and endless patience remain vivid to this day. As you gather and celebrate your 50th high school reunion, I hope you, too, have memories of Rich, of all that made him a real person, and maybe-as I sometimes do myself-reflect on what he might have become, had he lived to share this milestone with the rest of you. Thank you for remembering him. Doug LaMont (Class of '68) 
 



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

01/24/15 02:27 PM #1    

Jim Hopper

Doug Jenkins suggested we include Richard since he really was a classmate until his death in a motorcycle accident in '63.  Thanks very much for doing this Doug. I'll put his sophormore picture up soon. 


01/25/15 10:34 AM #2    

Kim Nybo (Gambish)

All I can say is,"Wow!" What a beautiful tribute!


01/25/15 01:10 PM #3    

David Butler

I felt the same way, Kim. Many thanks to Doug and Doug.


01/26/15 07:06 AM #4    

Janet Hudgens (Efron)

I agree--this is a wonderful--and moving--tribute.   Richard's eighth grade speech shows an early awareness of his mortality--beyond his years.  Thank you for writing this.


01/26/15 11:44 AM #5    

Carol Hopkins (Heath)

What precious memories and so poignant. Richard is also in that 402 Mechanical Drawing class photo.  How many of you remember giving your own speech and how many still have the record?  

 


01/26/15 01:56 PM #6    

Kim Nybo (Gambish)

Yet just another standout from Broadwater. I rest my case. xxoo


03/02/15 09:36 PM #7    

Kathie Trumbo (Harper)

Richard and I shared the same science classs in 9th grade at Lincoln and because he sat right behind me, we chatted a lot and became friends.  He decided to introduce me to his friend, Walter Ross, the friend his brother Doug spoke of.  Well, Walter and I became an "item" for a short while and then we went our separate ways but Richard and I remained friends.  It was such a shock when I heard the news about Richard.  Miss Miller let me leave classs so I could attend his funeral.  Going by myself was not an easy thing to do but I knew I had to go and say goodbye to a wonderful friend, a friend I had known, unfortunately, not long enough.


03/03/15 06:44 AM #8    

Janet Niemi (Chubb)

Thanks for making Rich come alive for us again. I too remember him from classes at Lincoln. Nice tribute. 

 


go to top 
  Post Comment

 




agape