Salvation Army

Commissioner Richard Daniel Atwell was commissioned in 1936.

Commissioner Richard Atwell
Rank	Commissioner
Birth Date	April 1, 1915
Death Date	June 26, 2000
Relations	Commissioner Doris Atwell (wife)
	Charles Atwell (father)

Another of the interesting letters has arrived from Captain and Mrs. Richard Atwell, Salvation Army officers formerly stationed in Lock Haven, who are now serving at the Howard Institute, Glendale, South Rhodesia, Africa.

Writing just before Thanksgiving, and addressing the communication which comes to The Express to Mr. and Mrs. Gus Cox and family, 318 Bellefonte Ave., Capt. Atwell reported that “We are now entering our summer, called the 'suicide season.'”

He says “the rains cease in April and commence in November or December. The veldt becomes very dry and veldt fires are something to behold and fear … Even as I write I can look out and see them in the distance and often they get too close for comfort…”

“The sun is dangerous and one has to wear a helmet for protection” he writes to his friends in Lock Haven who are in the midst of an unusually unpleasant and icy winter.

New Responsibility Capt. Atwell, his letter reveals, had recently taken on the responsibilities of “acting principal” at the institute, until a new principal arrives to replace one transferred. “It is a tremendous responsibility,” he said. The Howard work touches some 1,250 boys and girls each day. It includes direct oversight of a Training College where 16 cadets are studying; of the Howard Hospital, where along with other medical and surgical problems, the staff had presided at the birth of 250 babies born to nearby village women.

There is also a Teachers Training Center, 400 boarding students for whom three meals a day must be prepared, along with the supervision of studies, and 250 day students who come to the compound.

Wedding and Funeral Capt. Atwell has had his first wedding, with Christian rites and then also the traditional marriage customs and celebrations which the natives follow. He had also had his first funeral. Seven hundred attended. When Captain Atwell made his first appearance at the village, amid customary wailing of the natives, he entered a smoke-filled hut to find the corpse standing in a corner. This was a custom which gave him something of a shock.

Capt. Atwell reports that he had charge of arrangements for a congress of Salvationists which was attended by 600 soldiers and was marked by meetings much like similar congresses in this country.

In Africa, however, the “delegates come for miles on foot, sometimes a two days journey over the veldt. They sleep on mother earth, cook at little camp fires and sit on the ground or rocks for the meetings,” he writes.

The Atwells suffered a considerable loss, he reported, when their late-arriving trunks were found to have been pilfered. They lost most of their personal goods, clothing, shoes, linen and silverware. Their pleasure in simple American gifts, such as coffee, is reflected in his words of appreciation for remembrances from many friends.

The Express (Lock Haven, Pennsylvania), February 10, 1951

A good-sized congregation last night officially welcomed Major and Mrs. Richard Atwell, newly appointed Salvation Army officers to the city's Citadel.

Greetings were extended to the Atwells and their 15-year-old son, Richard, by Miss Elizabeth Itter, representing the Young People's Society; Mrs. Howard Snyder, representing the Senior Department of the corps, and Dr. M. L. Blum, a representative of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

The Atwells responded to the greetings after which Major Atwell delivered the evening sermon based on the them, “The Hands of Friendship.”

Miss Leah Haswell led the preliminary service.

The major was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Atwell is a native of Oswego, New York. He entered the Salvation Army Training College in New York City in 1935. The couple was married in 1939 and appointed to Lewistown, Pennsylvania, where they spent four years. An appointment to Lock Haven followed and four years later they were appointed to Manchester, Connecticut.

In 1950, the Atwells left for Central Africa on Missionary Service and after six and one half years in Africa, they returned to America last June. Ninety per cent of the native education in Central Africa is given by missionary groups and the major was in charge of the Howard Institute, on of the Army's largest missionary educational centers. Attached to this center are over 1,000 African youth.

The Army operates a Teacher Training School, where native teachers are trained, a hospital and Nurses Training School, a training school where African evangelists are trained, and a central primary school, now going up to the high school level.

The last four years the Atwells were in Africa, they were divisional commanders for the North Mashona Division in Southern Rhodesia, with 35 evangelical centers and 21 village schools to supervise, with an enrollment of over 3,600 African young people.

Since Major and Mrs. Atwell arrived from Africa last June, they were appointed to a speaking tour for the Army, which has taken them to elven eastern states.

Major and Mrs. Atwell have been appointed to Hazleton for an indefinite period, having succeeded Captain and Mrs. Raymond Raines, who have been transferred to Cleveland.

Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania), February 25, 1957

“Our American Heritage” was the theme for the Eastern New York Division Sunbeam all-day rally conducted recently at the Glens Falls Junior High School.

Leaders were Brigadier and Mrs. Richard Atwell, divisional commander; Capt. Barbara J. Torbitt, divisional guard director; Capt. and Mrs. Carl Schoch, host officers, with Capt. Frances Clark of the School for Officers' Training, as special guests.

Following morning registration, the welcoming session opened with greetings from Capt. Schoch and introduction of guests. Troop review was followed by luncheon and Mrs. Atwell presided at the afternoon session.

The Plattsburgh, Gloversville and Poughkeepsie Sunbeams participated during the afternoon, when awards were presented and troop review conducted.

Sunbeam groups participating in the roll call and troop review came from Albany, Beacon, Cahoes, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Middletown, Newburgh, Oneida, Oneonta, Plattsburgh, Poughkeepsie, Rome, Saratoga Springs, Utica, Watertown and Troy.

All girls of the Sunbeams concluded the day with a visit to Fort William Henry.

The Post-Star (Glen Falls, New York), May 27, 1966

Brigadier and Mrs. Richard Atwell, divisional commanders of the Eastern New York Division, Salvation Army, will be the guests of the Poughkeepsie Citadel tomorrow.

The couple was appointed to Albany in February. Prior to this, they were missionary offficers in Africa for seven years and had leadership appointments in Philadelphia, New York City and Cleveland. They recently were appointed in charge of operations for the Salvation Army in the Eastern New York State area.

Brigadier Atwell will deliver the morning sermon at 11 o'clock and Mrs. Atwell the evening address, at 7:15 o'clock.

Tomorrow has been designated as Home League Sunday and the local members of the Ladies' Home League will participate in both services.

Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York), October 28, 1967

A former Salvation Army missionary to Africa and his wife have been appointed to key directorships for the organization in northeast Ohio.

Lt. Col. Richard Atwell will be the divisional commander for Salvation Army work and his wife, Doris, will become director of women's services.

The couple was married while doing Salvation army duty in Lewistown, Pa., after his graduation from the Salvation Army Training College in New York in 1936.

Since then they have been at several other cities and in 1950 left for Central Africa and were headquartered in southern Rhodesia.

At one time there, Col. Atwell was principal for two years of Howard Institute, one of the Salvation Army's largest training schools in Africa, enrolling more than 1,200 youngsters.

The couple live at 20301 Shelburne Road, Shaker Heights.

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), January 27, 1969

Richard Atwell, retired Salvation Army commissioner and former third-in-command,¹⁾ 85, died Thursday in Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Before Retiring to Missionary Village in Bradenton with his wife Doris more than 17 years ago, Atwell was one of the Salvation Army's highest-ranking officials, responsible for some 50,000 members from 105 countries.

Following Salvation Army regulations, Atwell retired his position on his 67th birthday, but according to friends and colleges, he never ceased to follow their “heart to God, hand to man” motto.

“There may be a 'retired' in front of his name, but he never really, just recharged,” said Frances Eckstein, a longtime friend and retired brigadier. “When he promised a lifetime commitment, he meant literally until the day he went into the hospital; he served people until the very end.”

After graduating from high school in his native Pennsylvania, Atwell turned down a contract with the New York Yankees to join the Salvation Army as a uniformed officer. He never looked back.

Joined by his wife, who died in August, Atwell dedicated 47 years to assisting and educating those in need. He left his footprints all over the world, but Africa ignited a passion in his heart, and for 20 years he called it home, son Richard Atwell Jr. said.

His humanitarian efforts in Africa and the United States received praise from foreign dignitaries and leaders from around the world, yet Atwell refused to bask in the glory of his achievements and remained a “humble” man until he died, Atwell Jr. said.

“He led Queen Elizabeth's birthday procession alongside Prince Philip, dined with international political figureheads and received bravery medals on more than one occasion, but he always said it was the uniform receiving the attention and not him,” Atwell Jr. said.

After retiring in 1982, Atwell left Rhodesia, Africa, and moved to Bradenton's Missionary Village. Founded in 1980 by Tropicana tycoon Anthony Rossi, the retirement village provides free housing for those like Atwell who dedicate their lives to missionary work.

Co-founder Sanna Rossi described Atwell as one of the most kind and gracious people she has ever met. “It was a pleasure to have him here,” she said.

He is survived by a son, Richard Jr., and a “daughter-in-love” Maureen Atwell of Chicago; a sister, Flosie Fenea of Kingston, Pa.; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Bradenton Funeral Home, 5827 14th St. W. Memorial. Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Bradenton Missionary Village. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Petersburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Richard and Doris Atwell Memorial Fund for Africa, c/o Salvation Army, 1204 14th St. W., Bradenton, Fla. 34205.

The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Florida), June 30, 2000

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