Richard ‘Dick’ Squires, 1932-2024
Richard Squires, former Atlantic County freeholder and longtime county executive, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Shore Medical Center in Somers Point. He was 91.
The US Navy veteran who served on the battleship USS Wisconsin during the Korean War, was instrumental in establishing the Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City, the Atlantic County Veterans Museum and the Veterans Cemetery in Estell Manor, where he was buried Monday, April 8, after services at Adams Perfect Funeral Home in Northfield.
Richard E. Squires was born in December 1932 in Atlantic City Hospital to Clyde and Myra (McCoy) Squires. He attended Farmington and Cardiff schools in Egg Harbor Township, and graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1950.
In May of 1951 he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving a four-year tour of duty in hostile waters off the Korean coast aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin. After being honorably discharged in May, 1955, he worked as a driver and salesman for the Coca-Cola company before taking a position at the Atlantic City Loan Company.
In 1957 he began training for the New Jersey State Police, but resigned after seven weeks because of a training injury. In 1962 he became the tax collector for the City of Northfield and joined the Northfield Men’s Republican Club of which he was elected president.
In June of 1967 he became a licensed New Jersey tax assessor, working as a tax assessor for the City of Pleasantville and a tax consultant for the City of Brigantine. In 1974 he began service as president of the Egg Harbor Township Tax Assessor’s Office, a position he held until 1984.
His political career began with his election to the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1975, where he served as chairman from 1978 to 1983. He was then elected Atlantic County executive.
For many years at Christmas time he leased the ballroom of Mac’s Restaurant in Somers Point to hold a party for his many friends and associates.
After serving for 16 years as county executive, he retired in 2000, but not before initiating many innovative and award-winning projects, including the establishment of the Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery in Estell Manor, where he was buried.
Squires also served as chairman of the South Jersey Economic Development District, chairman of the South Jersey Transportation and Planning Organization, and president of the County Executives of America Association. He was also on the board of directors for the National Association of Counties and co-chairman of the NACO Task Force on Aging and Intergenerational Issues. He served on the New Jersey Assembly Task Force on the 21st Century and was appointed by Gov. Christine Whitman as a member of the New Jersey Property Tax Commission.
Squires was a member of the Korean War Memorial Committee, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9462, the American Legion Post 295 and the USS Wisconsin reunion committee. He was chairman emeritus of the Atlantic County Veterans Museum Committee.
With a profound and passionate interest in history, especially local history, he served as a board member of the Atlantic County Historical Society, serving as president from 2002 to 2016.
Following his retirement as Atlantic County executive, Squires became a private consultant.
He was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Winnie Cullen Squires, and is survived by his three children from a previous marriage: Keith D. (Keryl) of Utah, Kevin A. (Carol) of Florida and Kristin L. Squires of California; two stepchildren: Ronald Cullen (Marianne) of Egg Harbor Township and Winifred Hayes of Mays Landing. He was very proud of his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and is also survived by his three sisters: Janet Allister and Claudia Jacques (Donald) both of the Villages in Florida, and Carol Jones of Georgia and her three daughters, Marianne, Joanne and Candice.
Services were held on Monday, April 8, 2024, at Adams Perfect Funeral Home, Northfield. The burial was held with military honors at the Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery, Estell Manor.
Because Squires served as president of the Atlantic County Historical Society, located adjacent to Somers Mansion in Somers Point, the family would prefer donations to the Society in lieu of flowers. Send them to P.O. Box 194, Somers Point, NJ 08224 or the Atlantic County Veterans Museum, P.O. Box 194, Northfield, NJ 08225.
Note: A few years ago it was an honor and pleasure to have lunch at the Crab Trap with Dick Squires at the annual officers installation ceremony. We sat next to each other and had a lengthy and enjoyable conversation on a number of subjects. I was asked to give a short talk, which I did on the importance of continued historical research.
– William Kelly
