Former mayor of Hurst, who served on ‘borrowed time,’ remembered for dedication to family
Richard Ward served as mayor of Hurst on borrowed time.
During his 2004 campaign, Ward was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and given a 50% chance of survival, according to his son, Cary. He continued to serve owing to his love of the city and the importance he put on giving back to the community, the younger Ward said.
Ward died Saturday at 87. He had lewy body dementia.
He married his wife, Virginia Sue Ward, in 1960, and during their 63 years of marriage the couple never raised their voice to one another. He wasn’t obsessed with money, and always wanted a normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. He worked in medical sales and human resources.
“The only people who remember how long you spent at work are your kids,” Cary Ward said.
Ward served on the Hurst City Council for 22 year with the last 14 as mayor.
He gained national attention in 2009 when he came out in support of having background checks at gun shows. Ward was the only mayor in Texas to join the group “Mayors Against Illegal Guns,” which called for requiring background checks for private gun sales.
“Here’s a simple idea: You can be for the rights of law-abiding gun owners but also for common-sense policies to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” he wrote in a 2009 Star-Telegram op-ed.
He was also proud of his work to build the city of Hurst’s conference center, according to a family obituary shared with the Star-Telegram.
Ward was preceded in death by his parents and brother Eugene. He is survived by his wife Sue, son Cary, three grandchildren, his two sisters and many nieces and nephews.
