Richard (Dick) Cummins

For the past 15 years, Richard Leroy Cummins had put his love for animals to good use. He was recognized in 1990 for his work on the Midwest Stolen Dog Task Force, which helped curb the theft of pets for sale to research institutions. As a senior investigator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cummins worked to ensure that animal breeders, dealers and exhibitors complied with the standards of humane care and treatment outlined in the Animal Welfare Act. Cummins, 55, joined the USDA in 1965, working on the screwworm eradication program in Douglas, AZ. Cummins worked in Henryetta and Durant as an animal health technician in the 1980s before joining the Oklahoma City office in 1987. A devoted family man, Cummins leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Frances, daughters.