Richard Wayne Graves

Richard Wayne “Dick” Graves, BBA ’58, of Woodway, Texas, died July 22, 2023. Graves was born on Feb. 27, 1936, in Texarkana, Texas, to Charles Benjamin Graves, Sr. and Lucille Phipps Graves.

Graves was an active Boy Scout, receiving his Eagle Award and the God and Country Award, active in the Order of the Arrow, serving as an officer for a three-state area. He graduated from Baylor University with a degree in accounting in 1958. It was at Baylor where he met Jan, BA ’58. They were married Aug. 30, 1958.

Graves joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1955 and served in various units for eight years, serving the last four years as communications chief. Upon graduating from Baylor, he joined Northwestern Mutual Life in the Dallas Regional Investment Office. He had a 38-year career with Northwestern, spending six years in Miami as regional manager of the Southeast and the last 21 years in Dallas as regional manager of the Southwest. He retired from Northwestern in February 1996, and in 1997 Dick and Jan moved to Waco to enjoy more activities with Baylor.

Graves maintained a close relationship with Baylor over the years, and he has been a member of the Baylor Bear Foundation since 1959 and a member of the Athletic Directors Club. Dick and Jan were awarded the Milton T. Gregory Distinguished Service Award and the 2005 Lady Bear Fans of the Year.  Graves was president of the Tip Off Club in 2004 and served on the Estate Planning Council, Development Council and Baylor Bear Foundation Board.