Lockard

The longest tenured board member in Altoona Area School District’s history is being remembered for putting the district — and its students — first.

Richard “Dick” Lockard, of Altoona, died of cancer Friday, Jan. 14. He was 86.

Lockard, an alumnus of the Altoona Area High School’s Class of 1953, served on the school board for 44 years.

Lockard also served as chairman on the district’s athletic council.

District community relations director Paula Foreman said she’ll remember how “mindful” Lockard was, as well as his “mission and drive.”

“I can’t say enough about his passion,” Foreman said.

Dutch Brennan, who served on the board with Lockard for two years, said there’s one word that comes to mind when he thinks of how best to describe his old friend: “honorable.”

“A lot of times, people talk about elected officials, and they talk about nepotism and self-serving, but I never saw him do anything like that,” Brennan said. “He was always making sure kids had enough opportunities in life after they graduated. He was a big fan of sports and encouraged kids to participate in sports.”

Brennan said Lockard was instrumental in acclimating him to his new role as a board member. It was that experience that fostered their friendship.

“I was a newbie, and he kind of took me under his wing, showed me different things you have to keep an eye on that were important, like the budget and staffing and students, and walked me through the process,” Brennan said. “From there, we kind of became buddies. Even after he retired from the board, we talked at least twice a week.”

Lockard’s love for his hometown was steadfast and unwavering, Brennan said.

“He was driven about the community and wanted to make sure everything was done right and that people were being taken care of the way they should be,” Brennan said. “He had a big heart, and he put Altoona first beyond many things in ways that other people wouldn’t.”

In their last conversations, Brennan said, Lockard talked at length about his wishes for Altoona.

“He wanted to make sure things would be all right after he was gone,” Brennan said. “Even after retiring from the school board, he would chat up the superintendent on a regular basis to make sure things were being done in a way he thought was correct.”

AASD Superintendent Charles Prijatelj knew Lockard for two years while the latter was still on the school board.

“He had a powerful handshake and was always exercising, walking or lifting,” Prijatelj said. “He was in good physical condition. We’d find him down at Mansion Park walking the track.”

Prijatelj said Lockard put his community first and respected its needs.

“He did his best to be responsible to the taxpayers, to the children and the community,” Prijatelj said. “It was very obvious he cared about the kids and his impact on the community.”

Lockard’s passion for athletics is something Prijatelj remembers most fondly.

“One of the things I remember most about Dick was he was at every football game, and he was the person in charge of the train whistle,” Prijatelj said, referring to the whistle in the press box, which Lockard would blow as players rushed onto the field and scored touchdowns. “He was an avid athletic booster supporter and very passionate about rebuilding the greatness of Altoona. One of his passions was to see the improvements of sports teams and make facilities improvements and to keep building the esteem of the district as an athletic powerhouse. He was very much into the kids and athletics and was very visible on the school board.”

AASB President Frank Meloy, who knew Lockard for more than 30 years, said he’ll miss Lockard’s smile and “inquisitive nature” the most.

Meloy also said Lockard was conscientious, thoughtful, friendly and fiscally conservative.

“He’d always ask how your family was doing,” Meloy said. “To me, he was a person who just had great perseverance and stuck to something for a long time and dedicated his service to the community. He was on the board most of my entire career in the district, he had great interest in kids and if you went to any sporting event, he’d be there. He was a very dedicated person, active in his church and other things in the community: Just a good person.”

Lockard is survived by four children, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Private family services were held.

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.