Richard Allen Boyd

Richard Allen Boyd, 78, a retired Oklahoma City police officer, died at home on Friday, September 10, 2021, with his family at his side. The family will be present to greet friends during visitation at the funeral home Wednesday September 15, 2021 from 10 AM to 2 PM. A wake will be held on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 123 at 6 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial for Richard will take place on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery. Richard was born January 21, 1943, to Rodney William Boyd and Edna Harriett Raynor Boyd, and he was the youngest of three boys. The Boyd family lived in Inwood, New York until 1956 when they moved to Center Barnstead, New Hampshire. Richard was a 1960 graduate of Pittsfield High School in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. At the age of 17, he joined the United States Air Force and served four years. His first assignment was at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base in Burns Flat, Oklahoma.While stationed in Oklahoma, Richard met his one and only love, Lana Beth O'Neill. They were married June 13, 1964 and celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this year. Richard and Lana started their life together in Oklahoma City where he began his law enforcement career, and they started their family. Richard's wife and four daughters were precious to him. With his family, he enjoyed attending sporting and school events, playing cards and games, attending OU football games, and spending long summer days at Lake Eufaula. Richard enjoyed flying and earned his commercial pilot's license. He also earned a second-degree blackbelt in Judo, taught as an adjunct professor, and refereed basketball.In June 1964, Richard began his law enforcement career as an Oklahoma City police officer. Over the next 20 years, he served as a patrol officer, self-defense trainer, and supervisor of the traffic, helicopter, and jail units. Richard rose through the ranks to lieutenant and played an instrumental role in forming the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 123. He was a charter member of the lodge and served as secretary and president. He also served four years as the Oklahoma FOP president. While working full-time, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma.Richard's leadership in law enforcement did not stop at the state level. Starting in 1979, he served four years as National Treasurer of the FOP, and in 1983, he was elected National President, a position he held for four years. Richard attended every national FOP convention for over 50 years. During his years in law enforcement, Richard was invited to White House meetings under three sitting Presidents. He was a congressional lobbyist in Washington D.C. and played a key role in passing the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Brady Bill. In his leadership roles for the FOP, Richard was a popular speaker on collective bargaining strategies and regularly conducted training sessions around the nation. Richard was inducted into the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame as an inaugural member in 2009.Richard was preceded in death by his father, Rodney William Boyd, mother, Edna Harriet Boyd, brother, Robert William Boyd, and grandson, Trenten Wallace Reed. He is survived by his wife, Lana Boyd; children, Leslie and Darrin Hobaugh, Genesta and John King, Allison and Todd Gray, and Julia Boyd and Nick Materer; brother, Rodney T. and Eleanor Boyd; 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and many other members of the Boyd and O'Neill families.In lieu of flowers, Richard requested donations be made to the Fraternal Order of Police Foundation to assist with disaster relief and aid to families of police officers killed in the line of duty