After graduation, Richard attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL in pursuit of a career in family medicine. Richard was the recipient of the Walter D. Bellingrath Scholarship. While at Huntingdon, he pledged Sigma Nu fraternity. During his freshman year at Huntingdon, Richard was involved in a fatal car accident. He was driving friends home when a young man fell asleep at the wheel and hit him. Out of this tragedy came the Richard Coon Memorial Scholarship Fund. For almost 20 years now, there have been 27 recipients of this scholarship. It is a one year scholarship given to Huntsville High School graduates who have contributed to both their school and their community. It has provided much healing to Richard's family and friends that his memory can be honored in such an appropriate way. He was a wonderfully sweet, fun person whom we are all proud and honored to have known.