Biography

Richard H. Kenyon was born on 19 June 1938 to Herbert and Hazel Kenyon. Dick grew up in East Greenwich, Rhode Island and was a 1956 graduate of East Greenwich High School, where he was an outstanding student and member of the basketball, baseball and football teams. Dick was selected as the East Greenwich High School “Scholar Athlete of the Year” in his senior year. He was also a member of the yearbook staff and glee club.

He entered the University of Rhode Island in September 1956, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Dick was elected to “Phi Kappa National Honor Society” and graduated “Magna Cum Laude”. He participated in the Army ROTC Program, was designated a “Distinguished Military Graduate” and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Quartermaster Corps, United States Army, upon graduation from URI in 1960.

Lieutenant Kenyon’s company grade assignments were the Quartermaster Officer’s Basic Course, Fort Lee, Virginia and Post Maintenance Officer, Fort McClellan, Alabama. Lieutenant Kenyon was then assigned to the U.S. Army Security Agency (ASA) Field Station, Harrogate, England. As the Accountable Property Officer, he was responsible for all supply matters for ASA in England, which required coordination with supply depots in Germany and France. Returning to Fort Lee in 1967, he attended the U.S. Army Career Course where he was the “Honor Graduate.”

Captain Kenyon deployed to Vietnam in 1967 and was assigned to the 1st Logistics Command in Pleiku, Vietnam, as a Company Commander of the 561st Quartermaster Company. As Company Commander, he provided quality and timely products to all combat elements within his area of operations, which included some 45,000 troops. Major Kenyon was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He returned home to attend the University of Alabama where he earned his Master of Business Administration in 1970.

Major Kenyon was then assigned as an instructor and eventually Chief of the Financial Management Division at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School, Fort Lee, Virginia. He was then assigned to the U.S. Army Security Agency, Republic of South Korea as the Assistant Chief of Staff Logistics for the ASA Field Station, South Korea. His organization provided quality and timely intelligence products to all combat elements within his area of operations. He returned to the U.S. to attend the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, graduating in 1973.

As a Major and Lieutenant Colonel, Kenyon subsequently served in various senior-level staff and command positions of increasing responsibility. In 1977, he became Battalion Commander, 227th Maintenance Battalion, South Korea, responsible for providing maintenance, supply and service support from Seoul northward to close to the DMZ. Upon returning to the United States, Lieutenant Colonel Kenyon was assigned as the Lieutenant Colonel‘s Assignment and Counselling Officer for Logistics officers at the Army Military Personnel Center.

In 1980, he was selected to be the Assistant Chief of Staff (Logistics) G4, for the 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, CA. While in this assignment, he was promoted to Colonel in 1982. His performance with the 7th Division earned him the Legion of Merit.

Colonel Kenyon returned to South Korea as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group, Korea. He worked with all Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine logistics matters in support of the Korean Military Defense Office. He was responsible to coordinate with Korean Defense Industries, which utilized USA technologies to produce military weapons and ammunition. Colonel Kenyon was awarded the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster for his services. Returning home, he was selected as the Commander, U.S. Army General Materiel and Petroleum Agency, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania.

Colonel Richard H. Kenyon retired from the Army on 1 November 1988. His awards include the Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal and Army Staff Badge. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the Army War College.

Colonel Richard H. Kenyon has spent his entire life serving his community and nation during peace and war. His exemplary devotion to duty, personal bravery and outstanding leadership are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the University of Rhode Island. Colonel Kenyon is a member of the URI Alumni Association and a long-standing supporter of the University of Rhode Island Washington, DC Alumni Chapter as well as the URI ROTC program. Dick and his wife Sharron reside in Spring Hill, Florida.