Posted by Joseph M. Shea on June 21, 2003:

Richard "Red" Warner hailed from Berwick in the hard coal region of North Eastern Pennsylvania where Col. Blaik's Army Team did much of its recruiting. Red was offered a "full ride" at both Penn State and Syracuse but chose West Point instead. He wanted to play for Army and from 1955 through 1957 he was a stalwart on teams that twice beat Navy. "Red" struggled with academics through all four years. Learning to write The M1 Theme during Plebe English was an epiphany. He said he knew he would make it when first he heard the words "in recapitulation"! During later years "Red" would end sometimes lengthy phone conversations with "Now, in recapitulation..." "Red" had a sense of humor, smiled most of the time and was happy go lucky. He was a good friend, always generous and enthusiastic. He was a fun guy who loved to dance. Rock & Roll became popular during his cadet years and "Red" loved it. He would get out there and gyrate all over the place. He could never understand why everybody was embarrassed but him. Upon graduation "Red" chose an Air Force Career. He ran into trouble in Flight school and washed out voluntarily. After a few passes in landing he knew he couldn't handle it. "Red" had begun to develop a bit of a balance problem. One could see it in the way he ran and danced. It may have resulted from head injuries during his football days. He was light and small for an Army lineman of that period and was knocked unconscious several times. "Red" was tough, perhaps too much so for his own good. Flight School was the only thing he was ever known to quit. "Red" resigned his commission in 1965 to join Reliance Electric's business planning group. He spent several successful years with Reliance. Following his years with Reliance he held sales management positions with various manufacturing companies. "Red" married and divorced the same woman three times. As in most everything in his life he wouldn't give up! It was a stormy relationship. But it yielded a daughter, Michelle, who was close to Red in his later years and looked after him. "Red's" health failed in 1996 with a massive stroke from which he never recovered. He spent his last few years in a nursing home near Berwick, PA. While his health deteriorated steadily he always appreciated a visit from a friend. A highlight of his last year was a visit from the current Army Football Captain who presented "Red" a football signed by the team. Visited only months before his death by an Army Teammate he got shakily to his feet and began to dance. It was his only way of communicating. In recapitulation, "Red" you were one hell of fine man.

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