Mr. Richard C. Cartledge
July 27, 1946 – January 3, 2015
The Griffin Community was saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Richard Carl Cartledge, age 68 of Griffin. He passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at The Medical Center of Central Georgia.
WKEU’s Bill Taylor a lifelong friend of Richard said “I remember when we were both in elementary school at Forth Ward. Richard was a student of history especially in the area of World War II and his Fathers service of which he was so proud. Mr. Carl was a member of the 101 Air Borne Division and jumped into D-Day. He had a very distinguished career and was a Commissioned Officer. Richard and I went through the Griffin School System and Graduated together. Richard attended the University of Georgia when he home from Athens his mustang was involved in an accident that left him paralyzed and wheel chair bound the rest of his life. But even this injury did not slow Richard down, He spent a career with the Georgia State Patrol and was recognized as one of the premier radio dispatch officers in the State. Upon his retirement from the State Patrol, he became a recognized author well recognized and respected by the NRA, Major Auction Houses and the Gun Collecting Fraternity with his work on his book about the Gun that made the 20′s roar “The Thompson Machine Gun. His book is recognized as “The premier work and authority on the history of the Thompson Machine Gun. The book was dedicated to Richards Father, Carl Cartledge and was dedicated to his father who carried a Thomson military model during his days of service in World War II with the 10 1st Airborne. Richard was also a renowned authority on several documentaries filmed for the History Channel. Richards’s insight into the Gangsters of the 1920′s and 1930′s and especially Bonnie and Clyde, a subject which again returned him to TV prominence with the documentary for the History Channel. Richard remained dedicated to the collection of the Thompson and weapons prior to World War II that had made history and the historical value of those weapons made from the hands of the inventor to those manufacturers that contracted to manufacture the Pompons Machine gun, Colt 1911 45 military issue, and the military weapons of both the allies and German forces of World War I and World War II.
For years Richard and I stayed in contact especially when I was away in the Army. When I retired and returned to Griffin and purchased WKEU he would come by and visit from time to time and he would also visit with my dad Leland Taylor, who owned and operated Taylor Police Supply in Griffin, a major firearms Law Enforcement Distributor for Ruger, Winchester, Colt, Remington and may other lines of police issue type weapons, ammunition, and law enforcement supplies for Georgia, South Carolina and North Florida.
My father before his death remarked that Richard was a waling history of Law Enforcement Machine guns has was a major help to my dad with his class III ATF license to trade in police firearms to get the departments a more modern model for their departments when they world trade in older model machine guns.
To say Richard was my friend is an understatement I had the pleasure to know him from the time we were both about 4 years old until his untimely death.
He was my confidant, advisor, and most of all my Dear Friend. I will miss him so very much.”
A funeral service for Mr. Richard C. Cartledge will be conducted on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Dr. Bruce Morgan will officiate.
Please join the family in honoring the life of Richard C. Cartledge by visiting www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com and posting your tributes and memories.
Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, Griffin, GA. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com