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Obituary for Richard B. Sawyer
Richard “Dick” Boyle Sawyer, age 83, passed away on Monday, January 11, 2020 in his home in Centennial, Colorado. Dick was born on February 23, 1937 in Logan, UT, second child of Virginia and Frank Sawyer. Dick was a basketball star in high school, playing center for East High School in Salt Lake City. He was named one of the Nation’s 500 Top High School Stars in 1955 and 1956. In the fall of 1956 Dick went to Brigham Young University where he had a basketball scholarship. He played with a semi-pro team from Salt Lake City during the winter of 1958-1959.
Dick was drafted into the Army in August, 1959 and served at Fort Greeley in Alaska. He played basketball and volleyball on the Army team, and even earned a trophy for Most Valuable Player in a basketball tournament. He was honorably discharged in August, 1965.
Dick met Gayla Ann (Breinholt) Sawyer in Salt Lake City, UT on a blind date while on leave from military service in the Army. They were married on August 24, 1962 in the Manti Temple. Dick and Gayla moved to Denver, CO in 1967, where they lived for the remaining years of their lives. Dick was an iron worker in his early career, however, he is best remembered for his work as a construction manager in the commercial construction industry, having worked on many projects in Denver and Boulder, and across Colorado. He was a lifelong active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Dick is survived by children Kim Thurston, Rich Sawyer, and Ryan Sawyer, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, many life-long friends, and his beloved dog, Buster. Dick is preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert “Bob” Drake Sawyer, and wife Gayla Ann Sawyer.
A private interment ceremony was held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO.
Dick often quoted this poem, from a gravestone he saw near Crested Butte:
My good people, as you pass by, As you are now, so once was I, As I am now, so you must be, Prepare yourself to follow me.