BHS 1967 Class Member

Richard McCargar

Richard McCargar
1967
Click for Page Elementary Photo		 Richard McCargar
1972
Richard McCargar
Rick & Barb 2022		 Richard McCargar
5 of the girls
Richard McCargar
13 grandkids. 		Richard McCargar
May 2015 - Rachael's Wedding

Update 2022:

Following high school I attended Boone Junior college/DMMC and the University of Iowa. My sophomore year I was engaged to Trudy Greene. At Iowa I majored in general business and marketing (which I never got any use out of).

After college I went to work for Des Moines Savings and Loan as a real estate appraiser with the dream of having my own business after 3 year apprenticeship. My dream came true in 1975 when I became an independent appraiser. I had that business for 18 years.

Many things took place during those years. Barb and I got married June 1, 1974. Barb was my secretary when I started my business and helped me until Heather was born in 1978. ( can't believe our baby is 44 years old) She was followed by Thomas in 1980, Sarah in 1983 and Joseph in 1985. Then we took a break from having babies. We both committed our lives to Christ in 1983. In 1988 we decided to trust God for the size of our family. Rebecca was born in1989, Rachel 1991, Abigail 1994, Laura 1997. We then had what we called the big kids and our little girls. I was almost 48 when we had Laura and Barb was close to 44! Our family was completed. In 1983 I started a 2nd business as a distributor with Herbalife International. I closed my appraisal business in spring of 1983 and did Herbalife full time until spring of 1986. In 1986 I went back to appraising and working Herbalife part time again. In 1992 I went back to Herbalife full time. Barb helped me with both businesses part of the time. I dabbled in a variety of businesses and sold a variety of products between 1985 and 1992.

We were pioneers in the home school movement in Iowa so Barb was teaching the kids along with everything else. I went back to part time with Herbalife in 2002 and worked a variety of jobs, 2 or 3 at a time, until 2003. I then started my 3rd Career as building manager for First Federated Church and Des Moines Christian School. I did that until 2006 then back to 2 or 3 part time jobs. In 2007 my Herbalife career came to an end and I became a contractor in the foreclosure industry. My 4th career. I retired from that business in 2015 after sustaining an injury that prevented doing the kind of labor that was required.

Since retiring I have had several part time jobs. Two at a time again.(It's my retirement plan) Along the way we had nonstop activities with the kids. The kids are all musically talented. The big kids had us in a steady stream of recitals and concerts and competitions. At one time we had 5 taking piano lessons and competing. The highlight of those years was Thomas winning 1st place in the Iowa State Fair Bill Riley Talent Show. The little girls were in tumbling and dance. They also sang together as a quartet. They sang in a variety of events around town and won several county fair Bill Riley talent shows before winning 5th place at the state fair show. That resulted in being invited to audition for Americas Got Talent and being invited to the 2nd stage audition in New York. They wanted a family act so Thomas and Joseph tried out as well. Laura was the Iowa State Fair Grand champion yodeler 5 years in a row from the age of 8 to 13. When she was 10 she was invited to perform with the Presley Family in Branson and on the Ellen DeGeneres show. She was also recruited off of YouTube as a vocalist by The Voice when she was 17. When Laura got 2nd at the Bill Riley in 2018 Bill Riley Jr referred to us as the McCargar dynasty. Thomas is a professional singer in New York. His achievements are numerous but the most noteworthy is six Grammy Award nominations in the choral category from recordings with six different groups. Joseph was also an athlete so we had basketball games thrown into the mix.

We were also very active in our church. The kids performed there frequently over the years. We were constantly on the go with the kids for 25 years but it was very rewarding and a whole lot of fun!

Our greatest joy now is our 14 grandkids and we anticipate many more to come. The little girls have just gotten started and want big families. The cycle of recitals, competitions and sporting events is starting over.