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The Tommy L. Richards Graduate Scholarship

for Advanced Study in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, and Ocean Engineering

Tommy L. Richards died in 1989 at age 45; a promising life and career tragically cut short. He was an Associate Member of SNAME at the time of his passing.

Born in Port Arthur Texas on 6 January 1944, Mr. Richards received a BS degree in marine engineering from Texas A&M University in 1966. In 1970 he received a MS degree in naval architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied as a SNAME Scholarship student.

Mr. Richards sailed as a second assistant engineer with the Lykes Bros. Steamship Company from 1966 to 1968 before returning to school for his masters degree. In 1970 he joined the Naval Ship Engineering Center at Hyattsville, Maryland, as a naval architect in the Ship Concepts Division. In 1972 he rejoined the Lykes Bros. Steamship Company where he was employed in various engineering and naval architecture assignments. 

Mr. Richards joined the Society in 1968. He died on 3 December 1989. 

The Tommy L. Richards Scholarship is part of the SNAME Graduate Scholarships Program, and open to applicants worldwide who are members in good standing of SNAME looking to pursue advanced studies in approved universities. Awards are made for one year of study leading to a Master’s Degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, ocean engineering or in other fields directly related to the maritime industry. Applicants must not receive their Master's Degree prior to 1 September of the academic year for which the scholarship applies.

One scholarship for one year of study may be awarded annually. 

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