GUESTBOOK
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Richard Kuss, the Springfield business and community leader known as much for his unassuming genuineness as for his expansive generosity, has died.
Kuss, whose name is on the auditorium of the city’s performing arts center and his late wife’s name is on the science center at Wittenberg University, died in his sleep Sunday night or Monday morning in his home.
He was 87.
“We lost an all time pillar of our community,” said former Congressman David Hobson, who called Kuss “one of the most caring, giving people this community has ever had.
“I am heartbroken.”
Calling Kuss’ death a community and personal loss, Mayor Warren Copeland described Kuss’ style by recounting comments he made to Wittenberg students.
“He said ‘One of the key ways to be successful as a leader is not to have to get credit,’ ” Copeland recalled. Although “always in the middle” of community projects, he was “quietly in the middle,” Copeland explained.
“He was always willing to pass credit along to other people. That’s probably a good lesson for all of us to learn.”
Former Wittenberg University President William A. Kinnison said Kuss, a 1945 Wittenberg graduate, “will long be remembered as one of the major influences” on the university board. Kinnison also called Kuss, who attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, a “prime mover” in the campaign to secure the former City Building as the permanent home of the Heritage Center of Clark County.
Current Wittenberg President Mark Erickson said “When you were talking to Dick, you didn’t feel like there was anybody else in the world that he was interested in talking to.”
Tom Loftis, for 30 years a family adviser and friend, said Kuss was “totally committed to his church, to his family and to his (late) wife, Barbara. He was very proud of his service in World War II and had a great commitment to see his community do better.”
Long time friend and fishing and golfing partner Richard Link suggested Kuss’ civic-mindedness was influenced by father-in-law, Paul Deere, the founder of Bonded Oil Co., of which Kuss became president.
“I think he put Dick in touch with that, and, fortunately, he was in a position where he had the time and took it from there.”
Although he was the founder of Emro Marketing (forerunner of Speedway SuperAmerica LLC,) and had a resume with a lengthy list of petroleum industry, philanthropic and community honors, “there were no pretenses about Dick,” Loftis said. “He could talk to the most common guy on the street and he could talk to the president.
“He was truly genuine.” Loftis added.
“You do what you gotta do (to go forward),” Loftis said. “But it’s a loss.”
Arrangements are pending at Littleton & Rue Funeral Home.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0368 or tstafford@coxohio.com.
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