Cecile Davis Richards has been a reporter,
author, volunteer and dedicated supporter of Alpha Phi.
A native Tulsan and 1940 Central High School graduate, she
decided at age 10 to become a newspaper reporter and published
work in the sixth grade at Barnard Elementary School, at the
Woodrow Wilson Junior High School “Booster,” and at her high
school newspaper, “Tulsa School Life.”
She attended the University of Texas in Austin where she joined
Alpha Phi. She served as scholarship chairwoman, was a member of
the women’s chorus and wrote for “The Daily Texan.” After
transferring to the University of Oklahoma, |
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she
affiliated with the OU chapter, earned a bachelor of arts degree
in journalism, was “issue editor” of “The Oklahoma Daily” and
became a member of Theta Sigma Phi, a national honorary society
for women in journalism and communications.
As a reporter, Cecile has worked at The Atlanta Journal
Constitution, the Tulsa Tribune and for radio station KTUL. She
handled public relations for the Tulsa Community Chest, which is
now the Tulsa Area United Way. Recently, she published a history
of Tulsa’s first half century, “Wherever You Go – The Life of
Jane Heard Clinton: Indian Territory Bride.”
Cecile was one of the founders of the Atlanta Alpha Phi Alumnae
Chapter in 1944 and later became president of the Tulsa Alumnae
Chapter. She served as district governor for the chapters at OU,
Oklahoma City University, North Texas State University at Denton
and Midwestern University at Wichita Falls. She was a board
member of the Alpha Phi Foundation and established the John R.
and Cecile D. Richards scholarship.
As a volunteer, Cecile has been a troop leader, board member and
neighborhood chairwoman for the Magic Empire Council of Girl
Scouts. She also served as a board member for the Tulsa Boys’
Home, Babies Milk Fund and AAUW. She was a member of the
Daughters of the American Revolution and volunteered at Project
Get Together.
Cecile is currently involved in the Hyechka Club, Shakespearean
Society, Durant Study Group, Tulsa Historical Society and the
United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Cecile has been on the board of deacons at the First
Presbyterian Church, taught Sunday school for all age groups,
served as a Circle Leader in the Women’s Association and edited
“Tidings.” At Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, Cecile
tutored children living in public housing, partnering with Word
of Life Church.
Cecile and her late husband John R. Richards, attorney and judge
of the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, have four children – Ann
Richards Ketcham of Tulsa, also an Alpha Phi, Barbara Richards
of Palmetto, Fla., Phil R. Richards of Tulsa and Julia Thompson
of Wichita, Kan., an alumna of Kappa Delta. She is a grandmother
of seven grandchildren.
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