Written by JEG (06/2003); Transcribed & Edited by SS (7/2003), Updated by JS (05/2009)
Career
- Worked his way through college by building model planes and selling them
- Was a managing partner for Accenture, a management consulting and technology services company
- Had a reputation as an expert aeronautical craftsman and a top-flight competitor in national and international model meets
- 1988: Won first place in every category at a European competition
- 1987 -1988: Was a member of the United States’ winning F3D team
Bruce Richmond, 45, Model Plane Champion By J.E. Geshwiler Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bruce Richmond lived out a dream of many a boy for more than 30 years. He built and flew model aircraft well into adulthood.
As the years progressed, so did his skills – to the point he developed a reputation as an expert aeronautical craftsman and a top-flight competitor in national and international model-flying events.
The funeral for Mr. Richmond, 45, is noon Saturday [June 21, 2003] at Due West United Methodist Church. He died Monday [June 16, 2003] at his Kennesaw residence of myelodysplastic syndrome. Carmichael Funeral Home, Marietta [Georgia], is in charge of arrangements.
“Bruce and I have been building planes and racing them ever since we were kids in Massachusetts,” said his brother Brian Richmond of Gig Harbor, Washington. “Bruce worked his way through Georgia Tech by building planes and selling them to model enthusiasts who couldn’t match his quality of workmanship,” said Dubb Jett of Houston, Texas, a champion model racer. “To see the planes in his workshop now is like visiting an artist’s studio.”
His squadron of models ranges from trainers for beginners to high-performance aircraft, even some aerobatic models that are nearly half the size of real planes and are equipped with smoke systems.
“In 1988, Bruce won all the marbles in an all-European competition in Germany, finishing first in every category of competition,” his brother said. “He was a member of the U.S. teams that won meets in Australia in 1987 and 1989 against teams from Germany, Japan, Canada and Australia.
“In the event he won, he piloted a Radio Controlled propeller plane 10 laps around a course marked by pylons – 2-1/4 miles in all at a speed of about 200 miles an hour. Later, Bruce got into turbine jet models that would do 250 miles an hour,” his brother said.
“Bruce was an outstanding pilot in all kinds of competition: Radio Control, pylon racing, Control Line and Free Flight,” said Mr. Jett.
Mr. Richmond returned to metro Atlanta in 1990 to work for what is now Accenture, a management consulting and technology services company.
As a managing partner for its wide-ranging supply-chain operations, “Bruce was respected across the industry for his in-depth knowledge of technology, transportation, and networking,” said Steve Koppel of Boston, a retired Accenture partner.
“Bruce was Mr. Logistics to our retail industry clients,” said another partner, Gus Smith of San Francisco. “He was a role model and a mentor to every individual in our supply-chain service line.”
Survivors include his wife, Sandi Richmond; three sons, Chris Richmond, nick Richmond and Zach Richmond, all of Kennesaw; his father Stuart Richmond of Apache Junction, Arizona, and another brother, Perry Richmond also of Apache Junction, Arizona.
Bruce with BV Models Bob Cat, taken before first flight. (Photo from father, Stuart Richmond) Bruce (on left) fueling up for 2nd flight of the Bob Cat. (Photo from father, Stuart Richmond)
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