Richard Basil Caple

Richard, was born December 25, 1930 in Maxwell Iowa to Basil Hunt Caple and Charlotte Green Caple. He has one younger brother, John Linden Caple. Richard lived on the family farm all his life until he graduated from Maxwell High School in 1949. He then left for college and attended Cornell College in Mt Vernon Iowa and graduated with a double major in History/Political Science and Education in 1953. Richard then served in the US Army Signal Corp from1953-1955. He continued his education at Teachers College, Columbia University New York and received MA in 1956 and Educational Doctorate in 1961. Richard then moved to New Mexico and was the Counselor of Men, New Mexico State University in University Park, NM from 1957-1961. From there he moved on to Northwestern State College in Alva OK, to be Dean of Students, 1961-1967.

He married Anna Mae Sharp of Alva, OK in 1963 and they had 2 children, Holly Ann in 1965 and Michael Huntlee in 1967.

Richard came to the University of Missouri in 1967 to teach in the NDEA Institute for the Advanced Study in College Student Personnel. He remained and served as professor of education, associate director of housing, and director of the University Counseling Center during his career of 32 years until retiring in 1999. Richard instituted the Group Counseling Preparation Program for students in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri. During his career, he served in numerous organizations including the American College Personnel Association, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, and the American Psychological Association. He was also a lifetime member of the American Association of Higher Education, editor of the Journal of College Student Development from 1989 -1994, president of the Missouri College Personnel Association, co-president of the Rock Bridge Elementary PTA, president of the Boone County 4H Senior Council, member of the Board of Directors of the Boone County 4H Foundation, and president of the Missouri Reining Horse Association.

He published more than 40 articles in referred Journals, 1 book, and received numerous awards.

In his retirement he continued to promote and encourage education in all forms as well as being an amateur watercolor painter. Richard was a lifelong admirer and collector of art, particularly Native American works, and loved to travel to the southwestern U.S. He especially loved New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. Although he enjoyed his travels, time spent at his home in the Pierpont area, which he helped to build, was something he valued. In addition to his love of education and art, Richard loved horses and lived around them most of his life.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Anna. He is survived by his younger brother, John and children, Holly and Michael.