The Life and Times of Dr. Richard S. Beal Jr.

Dr. Richard S. Beal Jr. was my dad. A year or so before he died, he handed me his autobiography, the first draft of a book about his life, and asked me to publish it and pass it on to the family. As I read his notes and stories, I realized it was not unlike a graduate level textbook, easy for some to read but not for most of us. Considerable editing would be required.I also realized there were gaps. Large time periods had been omitted from his life which I thought would be of interest to a reader and should be included. Some of these gaps, I guessed, were perhaps too painful to address. I suspect some gaps indicated a different frame of mind, suggesting he was simply not interested in it or he had forgotten because it was dull.He was the graduate dean at Northern Arizona University for 20 years. You would think he would have a great deal to say about that time in his life, but he did not. His memory of administrative work at NAU consisted of pushing papers and attending meetings.He found joy and satisfaction outside, in nature, collecting insects and understanding more of God's creation. I recalled some stories about NAU's President, Dr. Walkup, his boss whom he admired greatly, and other interesting quips I heard at the dinner table.Dr. Walkup used to drop by and visit once a month or so. I also remembered many quiet conversations with Dad as well as many stories of adventure and discovery that simply had to be in such a book as this