Salt Lake City

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 Highway Patrol

	Richard Andrews 1952 - 2014
IN MEMORIAM

Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Richard Andrews, Chris Allen, 1981 SLC  UT

Here are some pictures of
Richard Andrews...

Many pics are available in larger sizes by clicking on them; otherwise  please  EMAIL me.

Richard died in the morning of April 2^nd 2014.

Salt Lake Tribune obituary here

American Atheist National convention was held in Utah  Link  

This Page: NowScape.com/atheism/R  -or-     NowScape.com/atheism/andrews

Richard promptly set up a booth for atheism at the state fair, a lecture on atheism at the city library, a regular radio talk show on atheism, a book discussion group, and a Dial-an-Atheist service. In 1981 he hosted the eleventh annual national American Atheists convention in Salt Lake City. In ‘82, I joined him as co-director, and the next year we put 400 posters advertising Dial-an-Atheist in UTA buses.

Rich had a strong interest in tax exemption issues from the beginning. Although Utah is a de facto theocracy, dominated by the Mormons, and run primarily for their own and their Church’s benefit, many Utahns don’t like that. Amendments to the state constitution must be approved by a simple majority, and we found that, despite strong campaigns by the religious establishment, well-researched arguments could convince voters to reject those amendments.

In 1980, we defeated an amendment that would have generally broadened religious tax exemption, and in ‘86 we defeated another to automatically exempt religious hospitals from property taxes. In ‘93 we defeated one endorsing teaching religion in the public schools.

With Utah civil rights attorney Brian Barnard, Rich started working in the courts. In 1991 he was the principal plaintiff in a lawsuit, SOS v. Whitehead, challenging the practice of opening Salt Lake City council meetings with a prayer. SOS stands for the Society of Separationists, an American Atheists corporation that was used early on for court battles. Rich won that case at the district level, but it was overturned on appeal to the state supreme court. Rich was also a plaintiff in two other SOS cases in ‘91 that sued the Utah Attorney General and the head of the State Board of Education for spending public funds in the legal defense of prayer at public school graduation. That same year Richard and I joined the board of  directors at Madalyn O’Hair’s invitation. Then when Madalyn decided to close all her chapters, the Utah Chapter reorganized as an independent  local group.

Richard was a speed-reader, eagerly devouring the multi-volume Golden Bough anthropology books on religion, novels by Salmon Rushdi, and many others. He was especially interested in the books of renowned historical novelist and atheist Vardis Fisher. He wrote about Fisher in the American Atheist magazine, and was interviewed on C-SPAN, Hannity & Colmes, and several other shows. He also worked with the Utah Education Association in their campaign against school vouchers.

American Atheists’ best recent victory in court has been our win in the Utah Highway Patrol Cross case. Richard Andrews, Michael Rivers, and Stephen Clark were the local plaintiffs and Brian Barnard was their attorney. They won a wonderfully strong decision at the appeals court level. Then the Supreme Court met three times to consider reviewing the case, and finally decided not to, so it was a permanent legal victory.

Richard Andrews won seven awards from American Atheists including Chapter Director of the year and Atheist of the year. He was a great friend, and I’ll miss him terribly. He is survived by his wife, Jennie, and his daughter, Laura.

 ~ Chris Allen,
    Afterlife member

  American Atheist Magazine announces the 1981
     Eleventh National Atheist Convention
     in Salt Lake City, Utah. Click image to enlarge.

"April 15, 1979
Texas Convention
R.  Max + Jon G. Murray"

Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Richard Andrews, Jon Garth Murray

   The Utah Highway Patrolmen's Crosses Case

 Link    About the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) Christian Cross case

Richard's friend, Brian Barnard explains his victory in the Tenth Circuit Court: The Utah Highway Patrolmen's cross case.
Listen to his 2010 speech here.

"The win in the Utah Highway Patrol  Cross case is American Atheists'  biggest  recent legal  victory."   ~ Chris Allen 2014.  You Tube -      Brian Barnard Speaks to    Salt Lake Valley Atheists

Brian Barnard "A lot of taxpayer money has  been spent on this so far"  Link  IN MEMORIAM

Sent:Aug31, 2010 Subject: How much? I would estimate that between my office, the state and the UHPA,  there has been more than $750,000 of attorney fees and court costs incurred to date.

Utah Legal Clinic

Brian Barnard    2010 ...The first cross was erected in 1998 on private property and 13 others were added later -- most of them on public property." ~ Salt Lake Tribune