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Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs
Alan Richards

 

WDVA Board member Peter Moran photo

161 Maple St.
Grafton, WI  53024
arzmi@aol.com
(262) 377-6725

Term Begins: June 8, 2011
Term Expires: May 1, 2013
Represents: At large member

Biography

Alan (“Al”) Richards, of Grafton, was nominated in May, 2011 to the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs by Governor Scott Walker, and was confirmed by the state Senate in June, 2011, to serve two years in completion of a term to expire on May 1, 2013.

He is a Vietnam Veteran who served from 1966-1969 and was medically retired with the rank of Sergeant (E-5) and as a recipient of two Purple Heart awards.

Al previously served as State Commander of the Wisconsin American Legion and is a lifetime member of the American Legion as well as the Michelle Witmer Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He is also a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Grafton Lions Club, Grafton Chamber of Commerce and Pilgrim United Church of Christ. Among other volunteer activities, Al was a mentor for the Wisconsin Challenge Academy program at Fort McCoy and was on the Advisory Committee for the 2007 World Veterans Wheelchair Games held in Milwaukee.

He received his education at the Milwaukee Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin Extension-Milwaukee, and Milwaukee Area Technical College. His career accomplishments include self-employment as a small business owner, as founder and president of ARZ Machining, Inc. He has also served as a plant supervisor and company manager, and as a Teamsters Local 200 Union Steward for six years.

In addition to the two Purple Heart awards, he is the recipient of the Patrick Henry Award, the highest award the National Guard Association of the United States can bestow upon a civilian, and he also received President George Bush’s “Lifetime Volunteer Service Award.”

Al has served as Chairman of the Ozaukee County Veterans Commission, was a member of the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs Finance Committee, and sits as the current Chair of the Board’s Long Term Care Committee.

He lives in Grafton.

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