of Guy, who died in 1983. The Fund’s mission was, and continues
to be, to support cichlid research in the form of modest grants
awarded competitively to graduate students and others (for more
on this program see the ACA website, www.cichlid.org), and to
recognize lifetime achievement in the cichlid hobby. As chair of the
fund, Dick succeeded such cichlid luminaries as Jim Langhammer,
Ross Socolof, and Paul Loiselle in this position. During his tenure
in this position, Dick worked first with Dr. Melanie Stiassny and
then Dr. George Barlow, who served as principal reviewers of the
annually submitted applications. Dr. Barlow, who has died recently
(see “Cichlidophiles,” TFH November 2007) and was Dick’s close
friend, had this to say about him:
Courtesy of Dick Stratton
Dick at 34, in a bio photo accompanying an article he wrote for
Aquarium Illustrated Magazine. Dick comments, "I thought I got
started in the aquarium hobby a little late, as compared with people
like Ross Socolof who started in their teens, but I have been writing
fish articles for over half my life now!"
Dick is a founding member of the ACA, as am I, though I played
only a minor role. Dick was a mover, perhaps because of his close
association with Guy Jordan and some other cichlidophiles in Southern
California. In that small group, he was a tireless worker. Importantly,
his devotion to the ACA has persevered over the years. Dick, however,
is not a flashy or self-serving person. He works quietly and steadfastly
behind the scenes. Publicity has never been his goal.
I have always admired Dick for his ability to cooperate, and that was
important in the growth of the ACA, particularly in the early years.
He tries to see the positive side of people, even when he disapproves of
their actions. That makes him an asset in getting people to collaborate
effectively. Take the Jordan Fund, for instance. In our interactions in
selecting Jordan Awardees, he gently urged me to action and followed
through on the whole process. His advice was invaluable.
Dick has been a consistent cichlid hobbyist over all these years. He
writes beautifully with a wit that I admire. In his relationship with
TFH, he covers all kinds of fishes. (He also writes books about dogs,
and they are well received). His breadth of knowledge is impressive, but
his heart has always been with the cichlids. His loyalty to cichlids is
demonstrated by his quiet, enduring support of the ACA.
In 2005, the American Cichlid Association was pleased to
award Richard “Dick” Stratton the Jordan Retrospective Award,
to commemorate his lifelong contributions to the cichlid hobby.
His name has been added to the pantheon of “Cichlid Greats,”
including Pierre Brichard (1987), George Barlow (1995), Paul
Loiselle (2000), Ross Socolof (2001), and Ad Konings (2003). As
you can see, it is an award reserved for only a very few exceptional
individuals. Dick is one of these.
As the current chair of the Jordan Fund (since 2005), I was
privileged and pleased to be the one responsible for shepherding
his nomination to fruition (with Claudia Dickinson’s initial
nomination and help). I was also responsible for a public
recitation of the many achievements that had brought him
the award. This was done in front of friends and peers at
the banquet at the ACA’s annual convention this past July
in Sacramento; it took us three conventions to get him there
to physically accept the award—but this time it was in his
own backyard, so there was no excuse! As a cichlid icon and
personal hero of mine, it seemed natural for me to hand him
the award, along with a big bear hug. I think I embarrassed him
with both my rambling recitation and my physical expression
of unfettered admiration. (This was tempered, unfortunately,
by the sudden loss some three days earlier of George Barlow,
also slated to attend to, among other things, honor Dick.) But
Dick is one of those gentle, friendly, and huggable kinds of
guys; I just couldn’t resist.
Courtesy of Claudia Dickinson
Dick and Ron Coleman at the 2007 ACA Convention in
Sacramento, California.
On behalf of the American Cichlid Association and Tropical
Fish Hobbyist Magazine, I thank Dick for all the many years
of service to the hobby through his many and varied writings
and selfless presence, mostly behind the scenes. George
Barlow got it right in his description of the person Dick is.
His 25 years as TFH Q&A Answer Man is, by itself, a notable
accomplishment. Mix in his lasting and continued imprint on
the ACA and you have a hobby legend. All of these testimonials
and facts are true, and I am happy to note them for you here,
but mostly, I am happy to call Dick Stratton my friend—and
friend to our great hobby. Thanks Dick, for all you have done
and, no doubt, will continue to do for the American tropical
fish hobby.
(Thanks to another friend, Claudia Dickinson, for her help in
preparing this celebration.) D