Myself, Bret Padilla, and my Mother, Deborah Padilla, have begun this scholarship in my Father’s name to help carry on his legacy and commitment to the city of Trinidad and students of Trinidad High School. The scholarship will be awarded by Bret Padilla and Deborah Padilla with input and guidance from Richard, who currently resides at the Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center in Walsenburg, CO.
The Richard L. Padilla Scholarship will be awarded annually to a college-attending graduate from Trinidad High School. The initial scholarship will be in the amount of $2,000 paid to the college on behalf of the student recipient. The scholarship will be renewable yearly for the recipient provided they maintain a 3.2 GPA. The scholarship seeks to be awarded to a student who resembles similar characteristics and qualities that Richard Padilla displayed as a commitment to community, sports, and civic involvement. Academic accomplishments will be taken into account, as well as extra-curricular activities, character, and commitments to the community. This scholarship seeks to carry on Richard’s commitment to helping the Trinidad community, and specifically a graduate of Trinidad High School which he has dearly loved and been committed to throughout his life. The scholarship is administered by the Sims-Fayola Foundation.
Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2024, and will be paid to the college for the incoming Freshman for the academic school year Fall 2024 – Spring 2025.
Applicants of the scholarship are encouraged to read about the life of Richard Padilla to find out more about who he is, and how they might resemble the characteristics of Richard. (See below)
Potential recipients can apply for the scholarship here.
Congratulations to 2nd Year Scholarship Recipient Ms. Makenzy Fernandez!!!
We would like to announce that the 2nd Annual recipient for the Richard L. Padilla Scholarship is Ms. Makenzy Fernandez! Makenzy has maintained excellent grades, extra-curricular activities, athletics, and given back to the Trinidad community, and she was incredibly thoughtful in her application. She will be attending CSU Pueblo the Fall of 2023 and looking forward to focusing on a career impacting young girls and athletes like herself down the road. We’re happy to play a small role in helping her to further her education and development!
1st Year Recipient – Enrique Guzman
The Life of Richard L. Padilla
Richard Padilla was born on February 25th, 1947 at Mt San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad, CO. He attended grade school at Santa Fe Grade School on San Pedro Street. He graduated Centennial Junior High School in 1961.
From a young age of growing up in Trinidad, Richard was exposed to playing sports, fueling a life-long drive to play, compete, and win in athletic accomplishments. According to his older brother Ron Lopez, Richard had a basket on his garage on Baca St in the alley way of his house. He spent countless hours playing there often with Mike Vecchio as his teammate, against his brother Ron and Paul Armstrong.
Richard played little league baseball, and basketball at Centennial Jr High School. But his real love was baseball.
Richard attended and graduated Trinidad High School in 1965. According to the 1965 Pinion Yearbook, Rich took college prep courses. He served on the Pinion Sports Ed. Junior and Senior Year, was on the Pinion Yearbook Staff Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years. He did the Coal Bin News Paper Sports Ed his Senior year, was in the Letterman’s club Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years. He played basketball his Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Years, and baseball all 4 years. He also played tennis his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. And he was the Home Room Sgt at Arms his Freshman year, and Home Room Vice President his Sophomore Year.
According to his older brother Ron, Rich “was one of the best pound for pound athletes I’ve ever seen.” Rich’s smaller size of roughly 5’4” high ensured that he would have to be efficient, athletic, and talented in order to compete in sports. But his drive and determination, as well as his love of competition drove him throughout his life.
Rich attended Trinidad State Junior College, Adams State College in Alamosa, and college in Pueblo.
Richard was drafted into the Vietnam War and began his tour of duty January 2nd, 1969. By May 28th, 1969 he was on the ground in Vietnam where he served through April 24th, 1970. Richard served with great distinction in Vietnam. According to an article attached below in the Trinidad Chronicle News, on October 20th, 1969, Richard was “serving as a rifleman with his unit on reconnaissance operation near the village of Phouc Hoa when the force was subjected to intense small arms fire from three enemy soldiers as the unit attempted to cross a stream… With complete disregard for his personal safety, Specialist Padilla immediately assaulted the aggressor’s emplacements and silenced the hostile fire with well placed hand grenades.” Richard was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” Attachment due to his “courageous initiative and exemplary professionalism.” Richard also received The National Defense Medal w/60 Device, Air Medal, 2 O/S Bars, Marksman Badge—Rifle on M16, Marksman Badge Machine Gun M60.
Upon returning home, Richard attended college, but then began working on what would become a lifelong passion – broadcasting at KCRT radio. He worked there from 1970 through 1977, and it was his ultimate favorite job. He rose in position and was the News Director, Sports Director, Salesman, and spun the hits morning and noon. He was one of the best, receiving job offers from as far away as Maryland. DJ’s in those days were big celebrities, and Rich had the voice and personality for it. He was an avid record collector, with original Elvis records being his favorite and largest collection. Richard would never leave for any other job offers, as he loved and was committed to Trinidad so much.
In September of 1976, Rich met his lifelong partner Deborah Poole. They were married the following Spring. In May of 1977, they were blessed with the birth of son Brad, followed by myself, Bret, in February 1981.
In October of 1977 and seeking a better income for his family, Rich went to work for United Parcel Service where he would be employed for 32 years as a semi-truck feeder driver. He would run loads for the majority of his career from Trinidad, CO to Dumas, TX everyday, and sometimes picking up an additional load to Springer, NM at the end of the day. Richard seemed to enjoy the job, as he was able to converse on the CB radio with other drivers, and listen to the tunes of the day, always taking an interest in newer music, as well as his favorite oldies. His trucker handle to the rest of the drivers on the road was DJ, harkening back to how most in the city of Trinidad knew him as the great DJ at KCRT. His proudest accomplishment came in 2006 when he was named one of the 4,202 Worldwide Safest Drivers for UPS. He was inducted into the UPS Circle of Honor commending him for 25 years of service (or more) without a single accident—a hard task to accomplish with that many hours on the road everyday.
Throughout the years, Rich maintained a great love of sports. He could be found at most any of the High School games for both boys and girls, many of which he called for the radio station both at home and away. He would also author special stories on the games and events for the Chronicle News, often not wanting to put his name on the story to receive credit. Even after moving on from his radio career, Rich maintained a foot in broadcasting for KCRT over the years, traveling with the High School teams even in blizzard conditions to towns all over CO to cheer on the Mighty Miners, and often to announce the games on the radio, or on the PA system for the High School football games, as well as the other sports like basketball and wrestling. Even as a small child, I can remember traveling all the way to Montrose, CO, a far trek from Trinidad, just to cheer on the Miners football team. When the High School girls JV basketball team needed a coach for a few seasons, Rich volunteered to coach the team after work. He loved working with the kids and seeing them excel to be their best.
Richard avidly played competitive baseball for a local traveling team, qualifying for a State championship according to a Chronicle News Article from 1978. Rich played competitive softball well into his 40s, and also played in an over 30 basketball league at the local Community Center. He also played in a bowling league. He maintained his love of tennis as well. If there was a team, he was playing. He was an avid Bronco fan and professional sports viewer of all of the local teams including the Rockies, Nuggets, and Avalanche.
As I got into playing sports, Dad would always be there to offer advice, assistance, and coaching. Playing youth league basketball, he was there to volunteer to help coach the team. When I became obsessed with golf at age 10, that got Dad’s competitive juices flowing again. Having played a little bit over his time, and like with most sports being fairly natural at them, he really became driven to get better. As I excelled and won a number of junior and High School tournaments, his drive grew that much more. Over the years, Dad went from a lower flight golfer, and improved up the ranks to play in the Championship Flight in a number of tournaments at Trinidad Golf Course, winning a number of them. He would also go on to play competitively at courses around the State. He helped to coach the High School golf team a few years while I played High School golf, driving the team to tournaments around the State. And he served for several years on the Golf Board at Trinidad Golf Course, helping to set up and manage the many tournaments the course would have throughout the year. If there was an event to be held, Dad wanted to be there to ensure things were done right, and the work got done. He was never one to shy away from the hard work that goes into coordinating any type of event and making sure the logistics were run well.
In 2010, Rich suffered an unknown accident while on the road in New Mexico coming back from Texas on his daily route for UPS. He was found laying on the ground at a rest area, and was eventually taken to a hospital in Amarillo, TX. He was found to have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an unknown manner, perhaps falling off of his truck or something similarly unknown. He spent 2 weeks in intensive care, 2 months of rehab in Denver CO, and 3 months of rehab in Conroe, TX. Even though the effects of his TBI greatly clouded his memory and judgment, there was one thing that he was always certain of: everything would be okay and good again once he got back to Trinidad. Getting back to Trinidad was always his #1 priority and goal throughout his rehab. He was finally able to return home in late 2010.
The 2010 accident took two of his most important treasures in his world: playing sports and listening to his beloved music due to hearing loss caused by the accident. When asked along this part of the journey what he still might want to do, he answered, “I have been lucky to go to all the places I ever wanted to go and do the things I always wanted to do. My life was full, and my dreams were met, and I am content where I am right now.” May we all hope to find ourselves in that position.
These days you can find Richard wheeling around the halls of the Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center in Walsenburg, CO. He’s always been much admired by his family and friends for his quick wit, and wonderful sense of humor. You can find him today still joking with the nurses who care for him as “his girlfriends” and occasionally getting his competitive juices flowing again with some games. Of course, watching sports is still a staple in his days, as it has been his entire life.
With that, my mother and I want to honor his greatest loves by establishing this scholarship in his name, and allow someone else the opportunity to live their dream. My mother Deborah and I are paying forward Richard’s journey.
