Richard Lankford, 85, of Princeton passed away Saturday, August 2, 2014 at River Oaks Health Campus in Princeton.

He was born on April 2, 1929 in Michigan City, Indiana to Major Raymond and Myrtle Vivian (Allen) Lankford.

He was President of Princeton Broadcasting Company. He was a United States Army veteran who served in the Korean War and received a Purple Heart Medal in 1952.  He was past President of the Rotary Club where he was a member for 50-plus years, a member of Prince Lodge 231 F&AM, Hadi Shrine Temple in Evansville, Past President of the Gibson County Shriners Club and President of Big River Bend Appaloosa Horse Club. Lankford was Indiana Sports Broadcaster of the Year for 2000 and inducted into the Oakland City University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001; he received Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 2003, was hailed for 50 years of sports broadcasting in 2003 and in 2014, 61 years of sports broadcasting.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen; daughter Sherry (Dan) Engler of Princeton, son Jeff Lankford (Missy Selby) of Princeton; two grandchildren:  Ashley and Jared (Jill) Engler; two great-grandchildren:  Kaleb and Kendal Engler; brother Stuart (Delores) Lankford of Lawrenceville, Illinois and sister Marianne (Gene) Showalter of DuQuoin, Ilinois.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ray Jay Lankford, and sister Wilma June Kennard.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 7 at Hillside United Methodist Church in Princeton, officiated by Pastor Michael Evanchak. Burial will be at the Highland Memorial Park Cemetery in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. 

Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Wednesday and noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at Hillside United Methodist Church in Princeton. Military graveside services will be conducted by retired military veterans. Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton is assisting the family with arrangements.