Richars, Elmer Dennis

A Life Well Lived

Elmer Dennis Richars, born August 23, 1938, passed peacefully on March 1, 2025. He was a father, husband, mentor, and friend and will be remembered by many and missed dearly.

Elmer was the youngest son of Elmer and Lucille Richars and the younger brother of Robert Richars. At Cleveland High School, he met the love of his life, Emelia Heldmann, whom he would marry in 1965. He would share that it was love at first sight and that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. Together, they created a loving family and raised two sons, Kurt and Christopher Richars.

Elmer loved a project, and his life is a testament to this. After a brief semester at a local university, the dean of students advised him to leave school and take a job. He would later share that he may have been having a bit too much fun but quickly realized he was cut out for more. In 1957, with renewed focus and dedication, he enrolled at the University of Missouri, earning a Bachelor of Journalism degree upon graduating in 1961. While at Mizzou, he joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity, an organization to which he would dedicate much and from which he would get much in return.

After graduating, he began work in technical writing at McDonnell Aircraft and copywriting for a local advertising firm before joining the Public Relations department at Southwestern Bell in 1963. His talent in writing and communication propelled him forward quickly, leading to a promotion that would take him to Austin, Texas, as the SW Bell lead and Press Relations Manager for the White House press corps of the Lyndon Johnson administration. Shortly after accepting this opportunity, he and Emelia were married on September 4, 1965, and departed for Texas, where they would live for three years. Before starting their family, he and Emelia chose to return home to St Louis in 1968. Elmer then began a successful 32-year career at Ralston Purina. He retired in 2000 as the Vice President of Public Relations, a position he held for over 15 years. In his words, “not bad for a kid from south St. Louis.”

In his personal and professional endeavors, he succeeded again and again. His tremendous intelligence and talent, accompanied by a measured calm and incredible perspective, made him a natural leader.

Elmer was an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America. He was a former president of the St. Louis Chapter and served for several years as a Director. He served as the Chair of the Public Relations Committee of the Pet Food Institute and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the St Louis Better Business Bureau. He was a member of the Public Relations Council of Washington University, the St. Louis Press Club, The Public Relations Seminar, and the Arthur Page Society.

A lifelong Kappa Sigma, Elmer served first as the chapter president while an undergraduate at the University of Missouri. After graduation, he remained engaged and served as the chapter Alumni Association and the St Louis Alumni Association president. He was twice recognized as Man of the Year, first by his alma mater chapter and then by the St Louis Alumni Association. Additionally, he was given the Distinguished Alumni award and twice inducted into the Hall of Honor, the highest honor a chapter can assign in recognition of his many contributions to Kappa Sigma and its members.

Elmer was a man people wanted to be around, and he held many lifelong friendships stretching as far back as his grade school days. His family was lucky to know and grow up with his many friends, including those from his childhood, college, and Kappa Sigma fraternity, as well as his successful career and beyond. They were all wonderful people you would expect to find in Elmer and Emelia’s company.

Elmer had many passions in his life, including his career, home projects, Kappa Sigma, and Lake Tishomingo, but none more than family. In addition to his two sons, Kurt and Chris, he had two loving daughters-in-law, Brooke and Ericka, and five wonderful grandchildren, Eric and Sarah to Kurt and Brooke, and Emily, Alex, and Luke to Chris and Ericka. He loved them deeply and took care of them in ways beyond measure. Most importantly, he gave all of them the tools they needed to succeed and clear counsel on what is truly important in life. His family has always benefited from Elmer’s words, and while they will miss his love and counsel, they know he taught them all that they truly need to know.

It must be mentioned that Elmer loved dogs, and all dogs loved him. From his first childhood pup through the many that graced his life thereafter, most recently Jasper, there rarely was a day without them. Dogs factored into decisions, including what cars to buy and how to furnish a room, and projects from Lake Tishomingo to home always included accommodations and considerations for the pups. Many of our memories include him walking around the Lake with several dogs in tow or sitting down to dinner surrounded by them. It has been said, many times by many friends and family members, that given the chance, they want to come back again as one of Elmer’s pups.

Elmer was a good man, arguably the best. He will be loved and missed every day for the rest of our lives.

SERVICES: Visitation will be at Kutis Affton (10151 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123) on Wednesday, March 5, from 4 – 8 PM. His funeral mass will be at St. Gabriel (6303 Nottingham Ave., 63109) on Thursday, March 6, at 10 AM. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery.