Richard Farnham Sherwood papers, 1942-1991

Richard Farnham Sherwood was a World War II veteran, organizer of the Senior World Exchange Program, and peace activist. Sherwood was a member of the Air Force during World War II and took part in photo reconnaissance of Hiroshima after the dropping of the atomic bomb. Dick was born in Price, Utah and spent his childhood in Salt Lake City until joining the Air Force. He served as a pilot during World War II and became actively involved in peace organizations because of his experiences during the war. Dick married Virginia Honey Sherwood. They loved experiencing different cultures and traveling the world promoting peace. The former Salt Lake City Water Department superintendent and his wife helped initiate and were involved in several people-to-people exchanges including spending 1950 on a water project in Mexico and five months in Russia pioneering a U.S.-Soviet exchange initiative in 1985. They were involved in the Civil Rights movement in Salt Lake, and even had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They hosted people from all over the world in their home and believed that to get to know one-another better was the secret to international peace and brotherhood. Dick and Honey were invited to Japan in 1995 when Dick was part of a four-part documentary promoting peace and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dick enjoyed a long life, full of adventure. He loved the outdoors, and was an avid fisherman. He was happiest in his canoe, with a fish on the line. He was also a talented violinist and singer. He sang for many years with the Beehive Statesmen Barbershop Chorus and loved to serenade his family with songs.