By Kevin Jefferies
Commerce – Flags will fly at half-staff today on the A&M-Commerce campus in memory of Dr. James E. Richards, former head of the music department at the university. Richards was 87 years old. He was a teacher-administrator, and was a founder and president of the Arlington Fine Arts council. He also served as President of the Texas Association of Music Schools, and was an outstanding alumnus of West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He served as head of the Music Department at A&M-Commerce from 1950 to 1975 and in the same capacity at the University of Texas in Arlington from 1975 to 1985.
Funeral services are today at 2pm at the First United Methodist Church, where Richards was a member. Burial is to follow at Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce.