Silent Key: Henry Leopold Richter

Henry L. Richter, Ph.D., 99, of Escondido, California, passed away Aug. 12 as a Life Member of APCO International and the California Public-Safety Radio Association. Richter's career ranged from terrestrial to space-faring engineering and communications.

He first joined APCO in 1946, right out of the Navy and working in public safety radio communications on behalf of Southern California agencies. He left the field and earned advanced degrees in Chemistry, Electrical Engineering and Physics from the California Institute of Technology. He went to work for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he helped build and design the first U.S. satellite in Earth orbit. At the same time, Richter worked with the San Gabriel Valley Radio Club to set up satellite tracking stations throughout the U.S.

In the mid-1970s Richter joined the L.A. County Sherrif's Department stemming from his involvement with ham radio disaster communications in L.A. County. He worked his way up to the position of communications engineer in charge of the department's microwave and mobile radio networks.

Richter left the sheriff's department to begin telecommunications consulting work specializing in radio communications for public service agencies throughout the U.S. He formed several consulting companies, which became The Richter Group, a collaboration of independent telecommunications consultants. His projects covered master plans and specifications for conventional and trunked mobile radio systems, microwave network design, computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and console studies, telephone system acquisitions, and CCTV and paging systems. He consulted into his 80s as a highly regarded expert in radio telecommunications. APCO records indicate that Richter rejoined the association in 1984 and remained a member until his death.

Richter is survived by his daughter, Gail Richter Jacobs and his son Steven Richter. His wife, Beverly, three children and his sister preceded him in death.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Richter's name to Wounded Warrior Project, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or No Kid Hungry.