Richard Willich

Standing atop the R&R Captain John Clink, Commanding Officer of the HMS Ark Royal and Lt. Colonel Willich (pictured above), made multiple toasts to country and to military service.  This was followed by a presentation to Colonel Willich of the HMS Ark Royal Crest.

Sunday, May 30, 2010, Lt. Colonel Richard Willich, United States Marine Corps retired, hosted an American BBQ for British Naval officers from Her Majesty’s Aircraft Carrier (HMS) ARK Royal and U.S. Navy Commanding Officers of the U.S. Fleet in the courtyard of his home in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Attending the event were officers from three British ships —Ark Royal, Fort George, and the Liverpool and two United States ships, the USS Halyburton, and USS Samuel Roberts.  Captain Aaron Bowman, Naval Station Mayport Commanding Officer, his wife Debbie and his Executive staff were on hand to make the “Royal” guests feel welcomed to the Ponte Vedra area and to Richard’s home.

After lunch, Richard hosted a tour of his 80’ boat, the R&R docked behind his home.  In addition to the tour of the yacht, the officers had fun alternating time at the helm of the tender that usually rides on top of the R&R, for scenic tours through Marsh Landing to the intracoastal waterway.

Upon returning to their ship, Captain Clink issued a Commendation to Lt Colonel Willich for his “exceptionally clean engine room” on the R & R accompanied by a letter requesting that the Commendation be placed on the R&R’s engine room wall!

On Monday, May 24, MDI Chairman and CEO Richard Willich and Captain Aaron L. Bowman, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer, Naval Station Mayport, hosted Senate Candidate Marco Rubio on a tour of the local base which is hopefully planned to become homeport for a nuclear aircraft carrier in the near future.

A loyal American with ties to the Department of Defense due to thirty years of service to the U.S. Marine Corps, retired Lt. Colonel Willich is an avid supporter of Rubio’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
“I arranged the tour of the base for Marco because I felt it was essential that he acquire first-hand knowledge of the extensive capabilities of our Mayport facility.  It was also important that he have the opportunity to meet Captain Bowman, one of the country’s most able Naval Station Commanding Officers.”

Unfortunately, Willich noted, since the Department of Defense announced in January of 2010 that a nuclear aircraft carrier would be moved from the Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia to Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, members of Virginia’s congressional delegation have attempted to stall the move.  Last month, when it was reported that Navy budgeting would not allow for the carrier move until 2019, U.S. Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) countered strongly that 2019 was a worst case scenario date only.

During his tour of the base, Rubio told reporters that he was impressed with Crenshaw’s position on behalf of the carrier’s move to Mayport.  Pausing outside of the Mayport Naval Station gate, Rubio declared that Virginia’s stalling tactics were counter-productive to the best interests of the country.  He stated, “The fact that a carrier is not stationed here yet is a sad testament to politics as usual in Washington.”

Willich thanked Captain Bowman for graciously providing Rubio a comprehensive and informative tour of the base.  “We can’t stress enough the importance of Mayport to North Florida and to the national security.  I encourage all political candidates to take the tour,” said Willich.  “Marco Rubio understands the elements of a strong Navy and the strategic value of fleet disbursement.  That’s why he strongly supports a nuclear carrier group based at Mayport.”

-Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube (left) and St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar (right) present a special award to businessman and entrepreneur Richard Willich for his generous contributions to the Youth Ranches.

Richard Willich, Chairman and CEO of MDI Holdings, was honored by the Wounded Warrior Project during a special ceremony on Wednesday May 5^th during THE PLAYERS Championship. Held at the Patriot’s Outpost, located along the 18^th green at the TPC Sawgrass, the ceremony honored Lt. Colonel Willich, a Purple Heart recipient and philanthropist, for his sacrifice for our country, his dedication to our service men and women and his contributions to the community.

Led by Captain Dan McCarthy JAGC, USN (Ret.) the ceremony included an emotional reading of the plaque presented to Willich. Read for the crowd by Staff Sergeant Nevin, the plaque includes a quote from General Peter M. Pace, which reads:

There are those who speak about you and say, he lost an arm, he lost a leg, she lost her sight.  I object.  You gave your arm, you gave your leg, you gave your sight, as gifts to your nation so that we might live in freedom.  Thank you.  And to your families, families of the fallen and families of the wounded, you’ve sacrificed in ways that those of us who have not walked in your shoes, can only imagine.

The Outpost was overflowing with military personnel during the ceremony, including Vice Admiral James W. Houck, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Navy Judge Advocate General; Colonel Steven R. Peters, Commander Blount Island Command, USMC; and Captain Aaron L. Bowman, US Navy, Commanding office, Naval Station Mayport.

The award presentation was followed by a short speech from Tim McGraw, thanking the service men and women in attendance for all that they’ve done for our country.

Richard Willich, pictured with Tim McGraw after a ceremony held in Willich’s honor on May 5^th at THE PLAYERS Championship.

Green sea turtle named “Richie” to be tracked via satellite

On Saturday, April 17, Keepers of the Coast honored Richard Willich at its Fourth Annual Sea Turtle Education Festival held at the St. Augustine Fishing Pier Pavilion. At the event, the Keepers, which focuses efforts on sea turtle preservation and protection, announced it is naming a sea turtle after Richard for his generous donation to the group. The green sea turtle, which Richard chose to name “Richie,” will be released back into the wild after rehabilitation at one of the marine life rehab centers in St. Johns County.

The turtle will be the first of its kind in area waters that has been fitted with a satellite tracking device which will allow researchers and biologists to track the turtle’s movements and migratory habits.

Last year, Richard donated $10,000 to the organization which allowed the group to hold education programs for students, beach cleanups, its cigarette butt clean-up campaign at the pier and secure the equipment to track the turtle.

Richard spoke at the event and said “…these community events are what make our country go around and make our community work. They are like a pebble in the pond, they have a ripple effect.” For more information on Keepers of the Coast, visit http://keepersofthecoast.org/.

View more photos from the event.

Artist’s rendering of the MDI Bird Park currently under construction

It’s been a harsh winter, but with spring brings all kinds of new additions to the construction at the MDI on-site bird park. Trees have started to arrive and be planted and environmental and construction engineers are working hard to transform the 4-acre site into a sanctuary for native birds. Plans for the $200,000 project include more than 100 bald cypress trees and more than 100 black gum trees and other native foliage and plants that birds love. Construction on the project started in November when Richard was granted a permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District to remove slash pine trees in the wet land on the site and transform it into the bird park. Richard hopes the newly-refurbished area will attract natives birds like herons, egrets, storks, jays, wrens and warblers. The six-month project should be open soon.

This is not Richard’s first environmentally-friendly and eco-centered project. He is one of the main donors to fund the Bird Island Park in Ponte Vedra and is a major supporter of the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.

View more photos from the event.