Richard Michael Slaughter

Richard Michael Slaughter, of Easton, MD, died May 16, 2017, after a valiant 14-year battle with prostate cancer. The son of Harry deSales Slaughter, Jr. and the late Margaret Cross Slaughter, he was born on April 3, 1950, in Baltimore, MD. Richard cherished his loving marriage to his wife, Harriett Downes-Slaughter, for the last 24 years. Richard started his education at SS. Peter & Paul School, entering the first grade when the school was founded and continuing through the tenth grade. He completed his high school education in Baltimore at Cardinal Gibbons High School. Richard graduated in 1973 from Lindenwood College in St. Charles, MO. During college Richard served as an intern with a local sports and talk radio station. Through this experience, Richard met and worked with broadcasting greats like Jack Buck and Bob Costas, and had the chance to interview sport legends like Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, Joe Torre, Bill Walton, John Wooden, and more. Richard also worked with the college’s local radio station during his tenure at Lindenwood. In the winter of 1971, the radio station hosted a concert featuring a then little-known performer, Billy Joel. As a member of the radio staff, Richard spent time with Billy after the concert listening to music and discussing the show late into the night. Richard became a lifelong Billy Joel fan, attending 36 more of his concerts after that night in St. Charles. His most recent concert was on March 3, 2017, at Madison Square Garden. After college, Richard worked in sales for St. Louis’ largest rock radio station. In 1976, Richard became a part-owner and general manager for a radio station in Bowling Green, OH, where he also did the play-by-play and color commentary for the Bowling Green State University Ice Hockey team. While at the radio station, Richard met Ken Morrow, who went on to play for Team USA in the 1980 Olympics and the Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders. Richard and Ken remained lifelong friends. Richard also remained an avid hockey fan, sporting playoff beards and "rocking the red" for his Washington Capitals over the years. In 1979, Richard had moved to Houston, TX, and joined what became Exxon Office Systems Company as a marketing representative. Richard was highly successful in his time at Exxon Offices Systems, becoming a major accounts manager and remaining with the company until 1985, when he returned to Maryland to work with Federal Express Corporation. In 1987, Richard began working for the late Abe Pollin, owner of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, where he served as the director of sports marketing. Richard revered Mr. Pollin and loved working with him, always referring to the Capital Sports group as family. Richard returned to the Eastern Shore and, in 1997, joined the late Louise Hawkins as a partner in Attraction Magazine LLC. In 2002, Richard became the sole owner of Attraction, and continued the magazine into its current 39th year of publication. Steadily growing under Richard’s guidance, the magazine has become widely recognized as the Eastern Shore’s preeminent “good news” magazine. An Eastern Shoreman through and through, Richard was an avid waterfowl hunter and sailor. He served as Commodore of the Tred Avon Yacht Club in 2009. Along with his friend, Jay Dayton, he owned and raced the Shields one-design, Black Pearl, which was a regular participant racing at TAYC and in OARS events on the Tred Avon River. Black Pearl also sailed in several Shields National Regattas. Richard prided himself in engaging young sailors to crew on Black Pearl as they transitioned from dingy sailing to keel boat racing. Richard and Harriett chased the sunshine as frequent visitors to the beaches of Rehoboth, FL, and Mexico. Above all, Richard enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends. Richard was a loving husband of Harriett Downes-Slaughter; a caring brother-in-law to Tilghman McCabe Jr. (Aimee), of Annapolis, a devoted stepfather to Allison Williams Downes, of Easton, and Robert Williams Downes IV, of Wilmington, NC; a fun-loving “granddad” to Lydia and Matthew Periconi of Easton; and a proud uncle to ENS Tilghman Holland McCabe, USN, of Charleston, SC. Richard is also survived by his father; his sister, Carole Ann Hilberg (Chip), of Hereford, MD; his brother, Harry deSales Slaughter III (Martha) of Easton; nieces, Jennifer and Kathleen Hilberg; and nephew, Trey Hilberg. Richard was a good friend to many and will be missed in places too numerous to mention. He never left a friend or closed a phone call, without saying, “Be Well.” A remarkable man of character, integrity, humor, and grace, he will be remembered for a brave and courageous battle with cancer; both his own and on behalf of others. He played a major role in numerous local charities. He was especially supportive of CASA, University of Maryland Shore Regional Medical Center, Habitat for Humanity, The Waterfowl Festival, Colors of Cancer, Friends of Hospice Festival of Trees, and the Plein Air Young Artist award. Richard also proudly served as a judge for the Federal Duck Stamp Contest for several years. A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24 at SS. Peter & Paul Church. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, at SS. Peter & Paul Church in Easton, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tred Avon Yacht Club, Jr. Sailing Program, P. O. Box 337, Oxford, MD 21654.

Richard Michael Slaughter

April 3, 1950 - May 16, 2017