Wallace Richard Mc Gehee

On December 28, 1926, Wallace Richard Mc Gehee, arrived at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Kansas City Missouri—a late Christmas package delivered by Clara Hill McGehee for her husband Wallace. Waiting at home was 2-year-old brother, Bill. Little did anyone guess what kind of talent had been born, until the early ‘30’s—the height of the Great Depression—when “Dickie” became a star performer in the Kansas City Kiddies’ Revue, a variety show founded by Charles Lee Adams and sponsored by WHB Radio and the Jenkins Music Company with the purpose of showing off talented child performers. Both Dick and Bill, took part in entertaining audiences in Kansas City, Missouri and throughout the surrounding area, earning what today would be considered paltry compensation, but what was, at that time, welcome income in a time of great economic disaster. Every Saturday morning, until the age of 14, Richard Mc Gehee had the responsibility of showing up at the WHB microphone to play the wise guy role of “Pestiferous Pest” to Charles Lee Adams’ straight-man routine. Despite the amount of time devoted to the Revue, Dick enjoyed a memorable childhood; he told great stories about growing up in a neighborhood in south Kansas City where, during summer vacation, children played outside—morning until night—improvising games such as tag, cowboys and Indians and any kind of warring competition boys can imagine. He attended Blenheim Grade School and Southeast High School where his artistic talents blossomed under the tutelage of a favorite teacher, Miss Martha Abbot. At age 17, with the permission of his parents, he joined the U.S. Navy and graduated as a radioman at the Farragut Naval Training Station near Sandpoint, Idaho. He was stationed in Hawaii on a sub chaser patrolling the waters around the Hawaiian Islands and also visited Japan as well as other locations in the South Pacific. Upon return to Kansas City he took advantage of the G.I. Bill, which allowed him to enroll in theater courses at Kansas City University. Both Dick and Bill attended KCU and were members of the fraternity known as the “Bounders.” His performing skills—after years at the WHB microphone—came naturally. The following quote is from the University of Kansas City Review; “Bounders Stage Burly-Q Ball”: “The ‘Blackouts’ themselves have been done up in fine style by those two well known BMOC’s Dick and Bill Mc Gehee. Dick directs and produces, as well as plays in all of the eight different ‘Blackouts’. Bill Mc Gehee supports his brother throughout the performance … wit and humor will prevail throughout the ‘blackouts’ no heavy drama will be included.” Wit and humor were a big part of Dick Mc Gehee’s life. His ability to entertain through the spoken word was something that endeared him to a great many people; he was considered fun to be around. When the Korean Conflict—“Uncle Harry’s Police Action,”—as he put it erupted, Dick volunteered to go back in the Navy and served as a radioman, second class, aboard the USS Princeton, (CV-37), commissioned August 28, 1950. He returned to KCU in the fall of 1951 where he met Patricia Bass. They married February 14th 1952, at the Swope Park Christian Church in a formal ceremony. Dick’s mentor at KCU, Dr. John Newfield, director of the University Playhouse, recognized talent that went far beyond performing. He admired Dick’s carpentry skills. Dick began to take more interest in the technical—nuts and bolts—side of theater. Dr. Newfield put his student in charge of constructing scenery, and when the good Doctor moved to take a position at Kansas University, he invited Dick to go along with him, putting him in charge of organizing a carpentry shop. With a recommendation from Dr. Newfield, Dick went to work for Peter Wolf in Dallas, Texas. Dick often said, “I got my schooling at KCU and KU; I got my education in a scene shop in Dallas.” He also worked the extra board as a stagehand and became a skilled properties builder. Son, Jim came along in 1956. When Great Western Stage Equipment Co. in Kansas City offered Dick a job as a salesman, he and Pat packed up and returned to the Midwest. Dick started his own company, Associated Theatrical Contractors, Inc. in 1979. He and Pat worked together in the business for 17 years, then, at age 48, he gave up being CEO in a high stress—“the show must go on”—business to pursue a long-time dream of sailing on his own boat to far away places. By this time, Jim, was studying at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Ian, age 14, accompanied his parents on the great adventure. Dick supervised the building of his sailboat—a 36-ft. Mariner Ketch— in Long Beach, California. Ian proved to be a natural sailor. In 1976, he cast off the dock lines and with “Captain Dick” at the helm Matang sailed toward San Diego and ports south. Dick and Pat lived aboard Matang for 20 years. They made a transit of the Panama Canal in 1979; their cruising days ended when a tanker damaged their boat making it un-seaworthy. During a 6-year court settlement, the Mc Gehees focused on a new kind of adventure. They studied Spanish Colonial history and eventually lived in the small town of Portobelo, where they fostered the history of the colonial treasure port. Dick helped cruisers in his workshop; he swapped stories with sailors from all over the world and gave out helpful information on Panama. He also revived his performing skills by telling fascinating tales about Portobelo aboard the small cruise ship, Pacific Explorer. In 2008, after a Spanish group bought their property in Portobelo, they returned to Tampa, Fl. Dick always had to have a project going; as crazy as it might seem, the seniors bought a house to renovate, and in May of 2011, he completely re-wired the house! He was able to celebrate Christmas as well as his 85th birthday in late December before he died at the James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital. His son, Jim, and wife, Pat, were with him. He leaves behind his wife of almost 60 years, sons, Jim and Ian, his granddaughters, Katy and Julia, brothers, Bill and Charles as well as other family members and numerous friends who will miss him and his entertaining stories. Pat gave permission for his cremation to include the Veteran’s flag-retirement ceremony. He often joked with her, saying, “I’m a veteran you know!” It’s appropriate that he, and the flag of the country he served, be retired permanently with the dignity they both deserve.