Richard Thomas Forchion Humanitarian Award

Our family members are delighted to establish an award in the memory of our cousin Richard Thomas Forchion.

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Richard was born on August 19, 1943, in Moorestown, NJ to parents William D. Forchion, Jr. and Bernice Forchion. Richard was the fifth of six sons in the family. His early education was in the elementary schools of Winslow Township, NJ. His secondary education was accomplished at Edgewood Regional High School in Atco, NJ. When he was a senior in high school, he found Jesus Christ and joined First Baptist Church of Florence Estates in Berlin, NJ where he was baptized in the spring of 1962.

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After graduating from high school, Richard attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, formerly Maryland State College. While in college, studying Business Administration, he was initiated into the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Nu Chapter. In addition to joining the fraternity, Richard was a member of the Student Council, Junior Class President, NAACP, and the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC).

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As a result of his enrollment in the AFROTC program, he was required to enter the U.S. Air Force. He spent over twenty-six years in the Air Force, retiring in 1993 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. While in the Air Force, he attended graduate school in the evenings earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

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In addition to his academic degrees, he earned several military medals and decorations. These included the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medical, The Air Force Commendation Medal, The Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

After his military retirement, he worked for McDonald’s Corporation for several years. In the fall of 1996, Richard began teaching Air Force Junior ROTC at East Orange Campus High School in NJ. Richard continued to wear the Air Force blues after his active-duty commitment by becoming the first African American to serve as Senior Aerospace Science Instructor in N.J.  He held this position at East Orange High School and East Orange Campus High Schools until he retired in 2011. He consistently demonstrated his readiness to provide recommendations for students pursuing college admissions or employment opportunities. Under his tutelage, the program grew to be one of the largest on the east coast, having over 350 students enrolled for several years. He was the embodiment of a leader, providing opportunities for students that they might not have had if not for these chances. Some of those occasions included sending ten students each year to the Kitty Hawk National Convention in Daytona Beach, Florida,  hosting a regional Summer Leadership School that included students from five different states, weekend trips to Washington, DC, Boston, MA, and local, regional, and national drill competitions among other things. Many of his students continued to stay connected with him beyond his instructional years. As the senior AFJROTC instructor, he actively promoted the organization’s goal, which is developing citizens of character, dedicated to serving our nation and community. He also encouraged the students to live up to the Air Force core values; Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do.