John Richard “Dick” Mcpherson

Orlando - John Richard “Dick” McPherson, of Orlando, Florida, went home to be with the Lord on August 3, 2010.

Dick was born in Mt. Vernon, Missouri on July 2, 1921, the son of Rex and Mary McPherson. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) with wings in 1944; was sent to Smyrna, Tennessee as a flight instructor in B-24’s; then deployed to MacDill Air Base to learn B-29’s. In 1945 he married Dorothy Keene just prior to receiving orders to go to the South Pacific where he captained a B-29 Superfortress strategic bomber for two years. After the war he was stationed as an instructor at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas. In 1950, he left the military and came to Orlando to join his father-in-law, R. D. Keene, in the family cattle and citrus business, becoming President of the company in 1972. In addition, Dick was President of Winter Garden Citrus Products, Cooperative, a citrus fruit processing facility, for some twenty-five years. He was instrumental in the sale of the Keene Ranch to the Morman Church of the property known today as Deseret Ranch. Dick was committed to serving the community evidenced by his tenure on the following boards: Past President and member of the Board of Trustees of Holiday Hospital; past member of the Board of Directors of Orlando Regional Medical Center; past member of the Board of Trustees of Rollins College; Past President of the Central Florida Y.M.C.A.; past member of the Board of the University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc.; and past member of the President’s Round Table at Florida Presbyterian College. In addition, Dick led the effort in establishing the R.D. Keene Family Professor of Neurosurgery, the first medical chair in neurosurgery established by a private endowment at the University of Florida College of Medicine in recognition and gratitude for the outstanding work of Dr. Albert L. Rhoton. Dick loved spending summers in the mountains of North Carolina, playing golf and reading books.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Dottie (Dorothy K. McPherson), his daughter, Keene M. Gerber; his son, Rex V. McPherson II, and his two grandchildren, Rex V. McPherson III and Mary McPherson Botts.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Memory Care, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, North Carolina 28803. A private family graveside memorial service will be held in Orlando.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.