Richard Jackson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 9, 1937, the first of five children of Louise (Craig) and Albert Jackson. The family later moved to a farm near Brainerd, Minnesota where Richard learned his mechanical and woodworking skills before pursuing his intellectual interests. In 1955, with a scholarship from his church, he went to North Park College in Chicago where in 1957 he earned an Associate of Arts degree. He transferred to the University of Minnesota, spending the 1958-59 year in study abroad at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1960 with degrees in history and philosophy. He continued his schooling in graduate school, earning a masters and then a doctorate in history and German literature. He joined a Mensa group in Minneapolis and met his first wife whom he married shortly afterward. In 1965 they moved to Houston, Texas, and he began a long teaching career in the History Department at the University of Houston. During those years he pursued an active academic career, writing many papers, which were published in academic periodicals, and three books. He and his wife divorced in 1985 and he married his second wife in 1986. At various times he spent sabbaticals at the Sorbonne in France, the University of Wisconsin medieval studies center, and the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study. For four years Richard was a visiting professor at the University of Strasbourg, France, teaching history in French. It was in Strasbourg that he was awarded a Docteur honoris causa de Lettres of Sciences Humaines by the Universite de Reims in 1975 and presented with a medal. He retired in 2001 and moved with his second wife to Calvert, Texas. After retirement, he pursued his interests in history, woodworking, astronomy, antique cars and travel to such far-flung places as China, Africa, Peru, Easter Island, and Turkey. He passed away on January 21, 2011 at St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan, Texas after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Virginia Jackson, stepson John Roberts, and his siblings Don Jackson and Alberta Adams of Minnesota and Becky Jakobsen of Colorado. Family who predeceased him are his parents Albert Jackson and Lewis (Craig) Jackson, his brother Ralph Jackson, paternal grandparents Andrew Jackson (Arnt Jakobsen who came to America from Norway) and Gena (Olsen) Jackson, and maternal grandparents William Craig and Valerie (Lespargnard) Jackson. Pallbearers are Jean Paul, William Grigsby, Chuck Brooks, Alberto Mantarola, Will Anderson and Tucker Anderson. Services will be at the Church of the Epiphany in Calvert, Texas. Viewing and a light lunch will begin at the church at 11:00 and services will start at 12:30.

The family asks that memorial contributions be given to the Church of the Epiphany in Calvert, and will be greatly appreciated.