Richard B. “Dick” Fry—writer, historian, and beloved storyteller of Washington State University—died May 27, 2026, in Pullman at the age of 103.
Fry wrote WSU stories for more than 50 years and penned a history of Cougar athletics for the centennial of the university, The Crimson and the Gray: 100 Years with the WSU Cougars.
Born in California, Fry served in the US Army Air Corps in China during World War II, then worked in newspapers. He arrived at WSU in 1952, where he began writing alumni news. He became the sports information director for the athletic department in 1957 before eventually serving as director of news and information services in 1970.
Even after retirement, Fry wrote stories of WSU sports and published a collection in 101 Old Re-Fry’d Cougar Tales. At age 103, Fry published his second book: To China and Back Home in 1,105 Days: My WWII Story.