MOOLICK, Richard Terrance (Dick)

Owens Livingston Mortuary-Heritage Chapel, Snowflake, Arizona. Richard Terrance Moolick October 11, 1920 - May 11, 2014 Richard Terrance Moolick, age 93, passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at the Carriage House Care Center in Snowflake, Arizona. He was born October 11, 1920 in Anaheim, California to Charles Moolick and Blanche M. Glover Moolick. There are no public services planned at this time. However, there will be a memorial service planned in the future, probably in August. This site will be updated when information becomes available. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 05/23/2014 Richard Terrance Moolick, 93, of Snowflake died May 11, 2014, at The Carriage House in Snowflake of natural causes. He was born Oct. 11, 1920, in Anaheim, Calif. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Dick and his brothers decided to enlist rather than wait for the draft. Dick chose to enlist in the Navy and began training as a pilot with a Naval CPT unit in southwestern Arizona in 1942. In November 1943, he received his wings and was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. After advanced training in Lake City, Fla., and Beaufort, S.C., Dick joined his Squadron VB 133 on Trinidad Island near South America. The squadron was immediately transferred to the Central Pacific, where Dick began his career as a combat pilot with ranging through the Marshall Islands, the Marianas and Iwo Jima. He left the Pacific in May 1945, receiving his discharge as a lieutenant in November 1945. While on a three-day leave in New Orleans, La., Dick met Grace Curl, who became his first wife in May 1945. Dick decided to pursue his interest in geology, enrolling at the University of Arizona School of Mining. He graduated in January 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mining geology. Dick immediately received employment at Morenci with the Phelps Dodge Copper Corporation as a junior geologist. His career with Phelps Dodge spanned 35 years. The career with Phelps Dodge gave Dick the opportunity to identify and develop several lucrative ore bodies, including Metcalf near Morenci and Dos Pobres near Safford. He participated in joint ventures, which led to extensive travel in South America, Africa, Australia and Turkey. In 1975, he was transferred to the corporate office in New York City as a vice president, eventually retiring from Phelps Dodge as president in 1985. He also served as vice president and director of Southern Peru Copper Company and president of Western Nuclear Mining Company. He also became famous or infamous, as the case may be, for breaking the stranglehold of the labor unions on the copper mining industry. After retirement, Dick relocated to Glenwood Springs, Colo., where he began another career with the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. Dick negotiated with the Leadville, Colo., School District to obtain their abandoned high school facility. Dick served as chairman (1987-2008) and the museum grew from an empty school building to a vibrant museum, often dubbed the “Smithsonian of the Rockies.” Dick is survived by his wife, Esther Custis Moolick; daughter Kathleen Moolick Morris (Jerry); son Richard Terrence Moolick Jr. (Betty); two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two nieces. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Charles James Moolick and Blanch Mae Moolick; two brothers, Charles James Moolick Jr. and Max Eldon Moolick; first wife, Grace Marguerite Moolick; and daughter Carol Elizabeth Moolick. Services will be held at a later date. Owens Livingston Mortuary handled arrangements.