Well-known sign collector and dealer, Grady Richards, passed away January 16, 2013 at the age of 89 in Cincinnati, OH. Grady frequented all the major vintage sign shows in the Midwest including the Coin-Op show in St. Charles, Il and Antique Advertising show in Indianapolis; as well as the pertroliana and breweriana shows in the tri-state area. He was the proprietor of Richards Repair Shop in the Oakley area of Cincinnati, where he bought, sold and repaired his other love—vintage radios. He operated the antique advertising store—Past Times—next door with his wife, “B.A.”
Grady began his collecting career at the age of 5, showing an affinity for tail lights. His longtime friend, Dave Greene, noted that one of the best childhood birthday gifts Grady could receive was a tail light. “That’s all he ever wanted,” said Greene. In fact, Grady’s father was known to have taken his son on numerous trips to junkyards in his native Oklahoma to add to his collection.
In his adult life, he moved onto radios and then vintage advertising. Grady’s own collection of radio and vintage beer advertising occupied the backroom of his Oakley storefront. That room was the site of many Grady-hosted Christmas parties, which always included a live band. Invitations to the annual event were highly treasured by collectors. Grady is survived by his wife of many years, the aforementioned B.A. Grady was a good friend of the museum. We miss him.