Richard Parker Barrier – 50th Reunion Essay

Richard Parker Barrier

3818 NW 26th Avenue

Camas, WA 98607

rickbarrier@gmail.com

907-250-5698

Spouse(s): Diane-15 years (current), Thea (25 years)

Child(ren): Hillery (1975) Andy (1977) Thad (1979)

Grandchild(ren): Frank (2005) George (2007) Kaia- (2018)

Education: Yale- 1969- BS; Stanford- 1971-MBA; Institute of Court Management-1977-Fellow

Career: Alaska State Court Deputy Director for 12 years; Executive Director Commonwealth North for 5 years; Mediator; Investor; Appraiser

Avocations: Rotary International, Barbershop chorus/quartet, Golf, Travel

College: Pierson

I was a product of geographic distribution at Yale, coming from a public high school in a small North Carolina town, and would probably never have been there if I had lived in New England. But I had a great time there, with good roommates, a chance to compete on the track team, and an education that moved me into the next phase of my life. Unfortunately, two of my three roommates are no longer with us, and I am starting to feel a sense of urgency to accomplish something or more in my relatively few remaining years. I guess I regularly face the question of “What will I be when I grow up?” It is hard to imagine it has been 50 years since we graduated, and although I have achieved some positive outcomes, particularly a healthy, happy family, it seems like there should be more.

I, like the rest of our class, can say that we experienced dramatic social change during our college years and later. On racial equality, my senior year in high school was the first for integration in my county, and we had five black female students join our class. Although there are still struggles in race relations, maybe we are on a better path now. On sex equality, I was part of our last all-male class at Yale and a Stanford Business School class of 300 with only five women: the times they are a changin’ (or have already changed).

The most meaningful work I have done over the years is mediation. Can’t make a living doing it. The commercial mediation market is mostly filled with retired judges and some attorneys, but I hold this process up as the best way to resolve just about any dispute. Why people choose to fight it out in court, I’ll never know, but I guess they are either angry or think they are playing the winning hand. But so often litigants are surprised at the unexpected results from the judicial process. Mediation promotes peace between parties, and it is peace that I would love to see more of. There is simply too much hatred and bitterness in the world, and to what end? I try to do my own part in creating a more peaceful environment on a very small scale, and Rotary International strives to increase peace and mutual acceptance at a much higher level. There needs to be more effort by a broader constituency to make significant strides towards peace.

A final note: I appreciate the opportunity I was given to attend the best university in the country, and thank all of those who along the way made my stay there an exciting and rewarding experience. Thank you, Yale.