“Dr. Elmer “Bud” Richter, a community giant who served a number of organizations in the Valley and established the Jan & Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at Fresno State, passed Thursday January 28th.”
The Fresno Bee https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article248876944.html
Brother Richter, S’47, Alpha Omega, Stanford University was 94. He is survived by his wife Jan of 72 years; son Brad and granddaughter Renee Vandermeer and her husband Nick; and two great-grandchildren Matthew and Maci.
Brother Richter was a longtime supporter of Fresno State athletics and was on the steering committee for the construction of Bulldog Stadium. He was the recipient of the community’s highest honor, The Leon S. Peters Award in 2006. He served on the Fresno State Foundation Board of Governors from 1979 to 2006, when he was awarded emeritus status.
He joined the family business, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, following graduation from Stanford in 1949 and rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer. The company was founded in Fresno in 1895 as the Richter Bottling Company and was sold in 1977.
Brother Richter was dedicated to the Sigma Chi Fraternity and both Alpha Omega and Epsilon Eta Chapters. He was a longtime loyal Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter of Fresno member and supporter of our scholarship program. The following are memories of local Alumni Chapter Brothers.
“Bud Richter was a true gentleman and helped our Chapter in its early development. I was honored to work with Bud when I was Public Relations and Fund Development Director for Community Medical Centers and he was a Board Member. Bud not only contributed to the Chapter in our various campaigns but also raised funds. He was always there when we needed him, even though he was a Stanford Sig. He also gave Summer jobs to our Brothers at Pepsi, which he managed and his family owned.” Order of Constantine, Chuck Sant’Agata, S’56
“Outstanding brother! And we all are proud and glad that we can call Bud our Brother.” Order of Constantine, Tom Downing, F’62
“In April 1965 when I was elected to the city council, Bud took me to lunch. “Remember this,” he told me, “there is no expiration date on honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness”. I called on him often during those hectic years and he was always available and helpful, mainly because he lived by those words. Significant Sig, Elvin C. Bell, F’57
“He was a Stellar Individual, God Fearing, God Preaching… Even taught my dad a few things… he was a good friend! And he will be missed” Bill Smittcamp, S’73
“A true gentleman has joined our Chapter Eternal and we are better men because of Brother Bud Richter. God bless you Brother Richter and we send our condolences to Jan and family.” Brad S. Fischer, S’78
“Bud gave me job at Pepsi when he broke the Union yoke and gave many FSU students a job when he was the active CEO at Fresno Pepsi. He was a wonderful man and Brother for Sigma Chi. When I was honored as a FSU Top Dog, he was the first to congratulate me as I came down from the stage. We all shall miss him. All Honor To His Name.” Significant Sig, Dante Simi, F’58
Services are pending for Brother Richter. Dr. Saúl Jimenéz-Sandoval, Interim President, California State University, Fresno has ordered flags to half-staff at Fresno State on the date of his service.
White Rose Scholarship Fund: https://www.fresnosigsalumni.org/product/donation/