Richard "Rich" Anthony Bryant MBA ’70 was born in Alameda, Calif. on Sep. 30, 1935, to Doris and Walter Bryant. He passed away on Aug. 18, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nev. He was 78 years old. Rich spent his childhood in Alameda and Mill Valley, Calif. before his family relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1951, where he attended Roosevelt High School. Rich "Big Red" Bryant was a decorated track and field athlete. He was the Interscholastic Champion as well as the Hawaiian Islands Champion in the quarter mile event in 1954. Upon graduation, Rich returned to California to attend Fresno State College. He continued his athletic excellence by winning the West Coast Relays as a member of the championship mile relay team in 1955. He was also a proud member of the Fresno State chapter of Sigma Chi. Rich completed his Bachelor’s degree at California State University, San Jose and later would receive his Master’s degree from Santa Clara University.
Rich served his country as a Marine and in the United States Army Reserve Corps. He was stationed at Twenty Nine Palms, Calif. and played competitive football for the Marines’ travel team. After living in both the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas, Rich returned to Fresno in 1992, to establish Assured Mortgage Company. He found great joy being a successful business owner. Rich was a most adventurous person. He enjoyed a lifelong love of the outdoors and fishing. He enjoyed traveling the world and was blessed to be able to travel the world extensively with his family. He will forever be remembered as a happy man, with an infectious smile, who was kind, generous and loving. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and business associates. God bless you "Dad", "Pee Pa", "Uncle Rich", we love you.
Richard was preceded in death by his brothers, Walter "Bud" and Michael "Mike" Bryant; his sister, Gloria Strider; and his niece, Susan Ann Lawrence (Strider). He is survived by his devoted son, Collin Bryant and wife Nikki; his brother, Steve Bryant and wife Betsy; his former wife, Allaire Toddhunter Bryant; his godson and nephew, Sean Christopher Bryant; his most treasured granddaughters, Hunter and Hayden Bryant; as well as countless nieces and nephews.