Richard (Dick) Casper

Richard "Dick" Casper passed away peacefully at age 87 on Friday, November 3, 2023, in McKinney, Texas.

Dick was born May 14, 1936, in San Jose, California. His parents, Micky and Inez Casper, moved the family to Salinas when he was two months old. Dick was a graduate of Salinas High School ('54), Hartnell Junior College ('56), and University of California at Berkeley (CAL -'58). He earned a track and field scholarship to CAL and was a competitive miler for the famous track coach Brutus Hamilton.

In 1959 Dick married Paula Jean Outland of San Marino, California. He met her at a Cal-UCLA football game when Paula was a student at UCLA. They were married for 58 years until Paula passed away on June 4, 2017.

Dick was a high school teacher and coach at both North Salinas High and Alisal High. He taught history and American government and coached basketball and track and field. Track was always his total love and passion. In 1968 he formed the Salinas Valley Track Club (SVTC), a successful boys and girls youth sports organization. SVTC had over 1,600 athletes over an 18-year span. Many of those athletes went on to compete in high school and college track and coaching. Several even made the US Olympic Track and Field team.

Dick was inducted into the Hartnell College Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

In 1978 Dick retired from teaching and began a 33-year career in the life insurance industry working for Critchfield and Associates Guarantee Mutual in Salinas.

He was a devout Christian and was very involved with the First Presbyterian Church in Salinas.

In 2001 Dick and Paula moved to Plano, Texas but not without a two year stop in Branson, Missouri.  In Plano they became active members of both Lifepoint (Plano) and Providence (Frisco) Churches. It was during this time that Dick made the transition from being a track coach to a men's coach. He developed a passion for mentoring Christian men in their marriages and lives and was very involved with Coaches Outreach - a Christian organization that supports high school sports coaches in their faith journeys.

During the seven years that Paula battled Alzheimer’s, Dick worked lovingly and tirelessly as her full-time caretaker. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, mentor and friend to so many. He will be sorely missed but will forever be in our hearts.

Dick Casper is survived by his sons Bob (Laurie) Casper of Alamo, California and Bill Casper of Medellin, Colombia, daughter Jenny (Mark) Howe of Celina, Texas, grandchildren David Casper (Mari), Michael Casper (Morgan), Jennifer Romero (Daniel), Jessica Howe, Emily Howe, and great granddaughter Cosette Casper.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, November 27, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Providence Church, 5625 Preston Rd., Frisco, Texas 75034.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dick Casper can be made to influencers.org or to the donor’s favorite charity.