Carter “C. L.” Richard was born on November 28, 1960 to Owens and Laura Richard. He passed away on June 4, 2026 after a brief bout with cancer, with the love of his life by his side.
C.L. grew up in Bridge City, TX and could forever recall the families who lived in each home on their dead-end road throughout his adolescence. Nearby kids naturally banded together in the small neighborhood. Walking to each other’s homes, playing in a vacant lot, or walking to “Billups” grocery were weekly occurrences. His parents’ home tended to be the social gathering spot for friends and family, and hosted numerous cookouts, crawfish boils, and coffee hours.
C.L. portrayed the Bridge City “Red Raider” in Jr. High and began working during high school. He was employed by area grocery stores and was a “whistle boy” for the Bridge City Skating Rink. He met Joy Richard after blowing his whistle at a cute girl who was skating the wrong way, and thus began a relationship characterized by the same blend of attractional tension from which it started. He had no idea what he was getting into!
Following high school, C. L. worked for Equitable Bag for 20 years, and was one of the last employees still active before they ceased operations. He spent the rest of his career working construction at various plants in Southeast Texas. While not an athlete himself, C.L. loved working with youth in area sports programs. He coached numerous basketball and football teams to championship games, and worked as officials for these sports and others. His passion for competition naturally fed into his relationships with his children. From traveling across the country with them to compete in national and international martial arts competitions and coaching their youth football teams, to being in the corner of numerous boxing matches, C. L. poured himself into sharing the activities his kids loved.
Along the way, he started two local youth football organizations, received an honorary black belt from Grandmaster Mike Maxwell for his service and commitment to martial arts, and ran the Golden Triangle Boxing Club. It was common for grown men to see him in the grocery store or around town, and still greet him with the phrase: “Hi, Coach.”
While C. L. was brought up and confirmed in the Lutheran tradition, faith was not a central part of his adult life until he and Joy began attending Winfree Baptist Church. It was here that he publicly professed faith in Jesus and was baptized, and genuinely began experiencing and participating in Christian community and service. He grew to anticipate learning and asking questions about the Bible in Sunday School, fellowshipping with other men at monthly prayer breakfasts, and providing food for potlucks, funeral meals, and college students. He will affectionately be remembered for portraying “Honey Bee” during Vacation Bible School, as he traded in his Red Raider uniform for a neon-yellow, inflatable bee suit.
C. L. is survived by his wife, Joy Richard; his children, Matt Richard and wife Michelle, Cody Richard, and Ouida Babb; his grandchildren, Emily and Luke Richard, and Colby, Harly, and Zoey Baab. He was preceded in death by his parents, Owens and Laura Richard.
Though his family grieves his absence, they take comfort in the Bible’s promise for believers that “to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8).
A memorial service will be held on June 25, 2026 at 11 am, at Winfree Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Winfree Baptist Church in his honor.
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