CEDAR CITY, Ut.--Just like he always did during his hall of fame basketball career at SUU, Richard Barton continues to make the most out of every set of circumstances he encounters.
Richard has taken his career in high school athletics to the highest level with his election to lead an organization of more than 10,000 high school athletic directors.
During a national meeting for the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) in Orlando, Florida, Richard was elected as the president of the association, a three-year commitment to provide leadership for thousands of his colleagues across the nation.
“People told me being on the board would be the best professional opportunity ever, and they were right,” said Barton.
The assistant principal and athletic director at central Utah's Richfield High School has now been involved with the Wildcat's athletic programs for 23 years and has enjoyed all of the opportunities that have come with the association.
“I've always taken delight in breaking down barriers and proving people wrong,” said Barton, when he talked about how people told him that someone from Utah and from a smaller high would never make it all the way to NIAAA president.
Richfield HS Principal Brent Gubler was excited to have the chance to say something about his assistant. “He has been a trusted source with his many years of experience. Rich is usually the first person to get here in the morning. He is a professional in all that he does.”
Gubler continued, “Rich is always willing to take on duties as needed. He is meticulous in his preparation, especially with extra-curricular events, and makes sure that activities run smoothly.”
Barton employed the same 'never-say-die' attitude while fighting through two blown ACL knee injuries while becoming one of SUU's leading scorers and rebounders. Barton's freshman year in 1986-87 was a high scoring, high-tempo team that won 21 games and surpassed the century mark on the scoreboard more than half the time (12 games).
During that freshman year Barton remembers all the hazing, included the two frosh getting to room with Radio announcer Art Challis during a three-day tournament in Butte, Montana.
“All I remember is that we endured three sleepless nights,” said Barton.
Challis has seen many of SUU's best athletes in action during his 42 years on the microphone. “Richard was the kind of guy that always made everyone around him better,” said Challis. “He worked hard and loved the game of basketball.”
After taking time out to serve a church mission, Richard returned to lace up the sneakers once again for the Thunderbirds who were upgraded to an NCAA Division I team, and Richard and teammates loved the challenge. They went on the road and proceed to knock off Xavier and several NCAA tourney-bound teams they were not supposed to beat. He went on to start every game, be named team MVP and averaged 16 points a game as a sophomore.
Five games into the next season Barton was averaging 29.5 a game and had 42 points with six and half minutes left to go in the game against Denver University. “I admit I was thinking about Skip's (Mead) record of 51 points in a game when it happened,” said Barton, who made 15 of his 18 shots that evening.
A freak accident on the court took him down and out for the rest of the year with an ACL ligament injury.
“He was really on a roll,” said Challis. “His game against Denver was simply phenomenal. When you first meet him (Barton) you don't think of him as overly aggressive, but on the floor he was really tough.”
That down time is when Richard learned to branch out and try new things that have eventually led to things like his election to the NIAAA Board and eventually the President of the entire organization.
“While I was out with the injury I did some SUU TV broadcasts of games and that was fun.” Barton continued, “I now get to so some color commentary because of that experience.”
“I was talked into running for education senator on the student senate and was fortunate to be elected and was also asked to serve on the LDSSA board. The leadership involvement, service, and high GPA helped me to qualify and receive a prestigious NCAA postgraduate scholarship,” said Barton. “It probably made me more inclined to do some things I would not have done if I hadn't been trying to stay occupied while sitting out.”
Barton said maybe without those kinds of experiences he wouldn't have been talked into joining the state AD association for Utah. “I had a friend at Murray High talk me into running for president of the UIAAA (Utah Athletic Administrator Association), that experience led me to get involved on the national level and to get elected to the NIAAA Executive Board.”
Richard stayed on the national board and was put on special committees and it just kept building until he was convinced that he should make a run for president.
“I have found my niche with it (NIAAA)… I have found what I like and it's such a great organization because it is all about professional development,” said Barton. “There are more than 40 leadership courses taught by the organization and all the teaching is done by volunteers. Rubbing shoulders with service-minded people has been great for me.”
Barton said the group is the greatest volunteer group associated with education. In fact, NIAAA became the first non school to be fully accredited. “The accreditation team said this is one organization that is all about improvement and selfless service,” said Barton.
The NIAAA champions the profession of athletic administration through educational opportunities, advocating ethics, developing leaders and fostering community.
Barton falls third on the all-time SUU scoring list with 1,419 points and fourth on the career list for rebounds with 557, but it certainly didn't come without some pain and disappointments along the way.
After returning from two knee surgeries, Barton returned to the team after missing most of a season. He played his way back into shape again only to suffer an additional surgical procedure the week before the first game. Still, missing part of another season due to injury and surgery, he never gave up on completing his eligibility.
“Hey, I grew up right down the street from where the Centrum would stand one day and I can't tell you how many times I snuck into the old field house at night to play ball,” said Richard. “I got to play against SUSC {Southern Utah State College} players when I was a freshman and sophomore in high school. I couldn't envision ever going anywhere else.”
He played at Cedar High School with The Pizza Factory's Chris Weaver and current NCAA basketball official Ken Nielson. The Redmen team knocked off Provo High School in the state quarterfinals, the team that many had picked to win it all.
Richard played for a week at an elite camp in Santa Barbara and was coached there by Stan Van Gundy of NBA fame. He also played on a big BIC team that went to Phoenix and an elite AAU team that took 2nd in the western U.S.
“The thought of quitting after the injuries never entered my mind,” said Barton. “I don't think I knew how to quit.”
Barton admits the best thing in his life happened to him because of his injuries. “I met my wife there (at SUU)… and if I hadn't gone through a couple of ACL tears I wouldn't have been there long enough to meet her, so it was all worth it.”
Just when he finally hoped to enjoy a final season with the Thunderbirds midway through his senior season, Richard broke the navicular bone in his shooting hand. “Man, I still got 20 a game but my body was just shot,” said Barton.
Through it all Barton still loved the game and being a good teammate.
“Richard was the kind of guy that always made everyone around him better,” said Challis. “He worked hard and loved the game of basketball.”
Despite all the injuries, Barton still had aspirations of playing professionally. He received pre-draft letters from NBA teams, the CBA (Now NBA D league), and met with agents about playing in Europe. The day before he started his job at Richfield he received a call to go play overseas. Barton said, “I made a good decision to turn down the offer because my wife ended up having complications with the pregnancy and staying home helped her make a miraculous recovery and it all turned out for the best.”
His wife, Sheila Christensen, came from a basketball family in Richfield and understood the desire to play ball and stay associated with the sport.
“I never thought about going right into coaching,” said Barton, “but I took the job and loved it.” Richard was the men's basketball coach at RHS for eight years before stepping away to serve another calling from the LDS Church.
“I got the unexpected call to be bishop and I knew it (coaching) had to go, and that's when I got out of coaching,” said Barton, who spent the last six years as head coach, athletic director and assistant principal.
Gubler said, “ Rich is very involved with his church and community. He is always providing service in helping others. He ensures that life lessons are taught. Rich is very passionate and proud of Richfield High School. We are fortunate to have him on our staff and appreciate all that he does on behalf of students, parents, and staff.”
As soon as Richard settled in Richfield he started his master's degree program at SUU online and finished his MED with an administrative endorsement in three years.
Barton's extended career in college started in division II basketball at then SUSC, under head coach Bob Schermerhorn, and then continued for coaches Neil Roberts and Bill Evans as the school graduated to a university, finishing at SUU in an NCAA division I program.
Coach Evans praised Richard's heart and soul as a player, “Richard was one of the hardest working players I have ever coached or even know of. He had a tremendous competitive spirit about him that separated him from the average player. Wasn't gifted as an athlete, by any stretch of the imagination, but his inner strength and his competitive spirit were outstanding.”
Evans coached longer than any coach before him or since and has seen a lot of basketball players come and go and felt very impressed with Richard.
“I remember how hard he worked to come back for his senior year. During his senior year, he wasn't nearly at full strength. His determination and abilities as a basketball player enabled him to compete and excel on basically one leg. He was a terrific kid to coach. You can look at what we did that year and what he accomplished and see that for yourself.”
Through all of the success and accomplishments Barton has remained a soft-spoken and humble man. His biggest delight outside of his family is in serving as a leader, and now he will be doing that for a national organization that is a service organization aimed at helping his colleagues around the country. Richard always seems to think about other members of the “team.”
Challis said, “He is one alum that Southern Utah can really be proud of because he has lived the values that he believes in. He has been a really good guy throughout his life.”
