Richard Hamer Clements

October 16, 1926 - February 2, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY

Richard Hamer Clements died at the age of 94 on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Dick was born on October 16, 1926, the only child of Hazel Hamer Clements and Richard Jones Clements. Following graduation from Classen High School in 1944, he was chosen for the United States Navy’s V-12 program and was sent to Emory University in Atlanta for two years.

Dick only wanted to pledge his father’s fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, or Fiji. Emory did not have a chapter, but Dick was able to pledge Fiji at Georgia Tech. In 2019, he received the Distinguished Fiji award from Phi Gamma Delta.

Dick spent one year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, returning to the University of Oklahoma for his Senior year, graduating with a Business degree in 1948. Following graduation, Dick worked as Sales Manager for Cain’s Coffee Company.

In the fall of 1950, Dick had a date with Mary LeFlore of Tulsa. Romance quickly blossomed, and they married on March 31, 1951, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tulsa. Dick often said that this was the happiest day of his life. They enjoyed a strong and happy marriage of almost 65 years until Mary died in February 2016. They were blessed with three sons, Richard, Robert and Edward.

Shortly after their wedding, Dick was recalled to the Navy during the Korean War. Serving as a Lieutenant on the USS Ingraham, he and Mary lived on Staten Island, and in Boston and Newport. Following Dick’s honorable discharge from the Navy, Mary and Dick returned to Oklahoma City where Dick learned that his former position at Cain’s was no longer available to him. Dick and his father wanted to work together and to remain in Oklahoma City. So, in 1953, they founded Clements Foods Co., which has grown steadily through the years. Dick came to the office daily throughout his life until 2020, and considered the employees there his “second family.” In 1984, he was honored as the Small Businessperson of the Year for both Oklahoma and the Region by the Small Business Administration.

Dick greatly enjoyed civic activities. His long involvement with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce culminated in his selection as Chairman in 1983. He remained on the Board of Directors for the remainder of his life. He served the YMCA for many years, first on the Board of the Downtown Branch and then on the Metropolitan Board. Dick was on the Boards of Baptist Medical Center and the Better Business Bureau for many years. Dick’s involvement with the United Way spanned 70 years. He served as Campaign Chairman in 1975 and as Chairman of the Board in 1987 and 1988. His involvement with the United Way continued for the remainder of his life. In 1989, he was the first recipient of the United Way’s Lifetime Achievement Award which was subsequently named in his honor.

Dick and Mary shared an appreciation for art. He served as Board President for the Oklahoma Art Center, one of two organizations which merged to form the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Dick has been involved with Allied Arts since its founding 50 years ago. He served as Chairman of the 1982 campaign. He was on the Board of Visitors of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma when both the collection and building expanded greatly. In 1981, he reigned as King of the Beaux Arts Ball.

Dick served as a Director for both the First National Bank and Trust Company and Local Federal Savings and Loan Association. He was a member of Young Presidents’ Organization, World Business Council and Chief Executives’ Forum. He served as President for two national trade associations: The Association for Dressings and Sauces and the International Jelly and Preserve Association. He served as a Trustee of Casady School and on the Vestry of All Souls’ Episcopal Church. He joined the Kiwanis Club of Oklahoma City shortly after college and remained a member for the rest of his life. He served as Club President in 1961. He was a member of The Fortune Club, The Committee of 100, and The Economic Club.

He and Mary were longtime members of The Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club and Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA. He played golf virtually all his life and played many of the top courses in the United States and Scotland. He also enjoyed hunting, primarily quail but also dove and pheasant. Dick was a lifelong Sooner fan. He attended hundreds of football games from the 1930s through the 2020 season last fall. We will miss him cheering for the defense to “Get that ball back Sooners!”.

In 2016, Dick made his “Broadway debut” with an onstage video appearance in the musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” of which granddaughter Caitlin is a co-producer.

Since then, his face has been seen by millions of audience members across the US, UK and Canada.

Dick was inducted into the Oklahoma City Public School Foundation’s Wall of Fame in 1997, and in 2017, into the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor by the Meinders School of Business.

Dick strived to be active. He was blessed with an ever-expanding circle of longtime friends and formed longtime associations with the organizations in which he was involved.

A consummate gentleman, Dick devoted his life to family, community and philanthropy, living the example instilled by his parents. He was a lifelong, proud Oklahoman, and he will be missed greatly.

Dick was predeceased by his parents and his wife. He is survived by his sons and their wives, Richard and Melissa, Robert and Sody, and Ed and Matilda. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, who called him “PaPa,” Caitlin, Molly and her husband Patrick Fisher, Robert, Bryant, Andrew, Richard and William.

The family would like to express their thanks to Dick’s physician, Dr. Andria Medina, and to his caregivers, Gabriela and Frank Escalante, for their excellent care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to The United Way of Central Oklahoma, 1444 NW 28th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106, or to a favorite charity of choice.

Visitation will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sunday, February, 7, 2021, at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper. Funeral services will be held at All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Nichols Hills, OK 73116, on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The service will be livestreamed at Facebook.com/allsoulsokc. Private interment will be at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Hahn-Cook/ Street and Draper.