Tom Richards passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends March 22, 2025, in Palm Springs, Calif. 

Tom and his identical twin brother, John, were born March 17, 1937, in Spokane, Wash., to John Smith and Ruth (Triplett) Richards. Tom was raised in Hayden Lake, attended Hayden Lake Elementary and then Coeur d’Alene High School. He graduated from Stanford University with a degree in economics and earned his MBA from Harvard.

Tom met his wife, Sheila, at Stanford University. They were married in 1961 in Calif. Tom and Sheila have lived in Hayden Lake continuously since marrying, spending winters in Palm Springs after Tom retired. A devoted husband, he was known for making multiple calls to Sheila every day, even if he had nothing to say, and they were a formidable bridge team. He enjoyed travelling with his kids and grandkids - a highlight being a weeklong family trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with his entire family.

Tom’s grandfather, John Morgan Richards, purchased the Atlas Tie sawmill in 1920. The mill was operated by John Morgan and J.S. Richards, Tom’s father. After completing his MBA, Tom joined the family business as manager of the Atlas Tie mill in 1961. Tom helped put together a merger of Atlas Tie and the DeArmond Brothers sawmill in Coeur d’Alene to create Idaho Forest Industries (IFI) in 1963. Tom continued as president of IFI until 2000, when he retired, and the company was sold to Stimson Lumber. Tom was passionate about every aspect of his work, lobbying for the timber industry at the state and local level, ensuring that IFI’s timberland was managed in a sustainable way, offering sawmill and forest tours and working to ensure that IFI was the best place to work in North Idaho.

Tom and his twin brother, John, were inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame in 2014 for outstanding leadership in the timber industry and generosity to the community. Tom’s commitment to the community was reflected in his work with and support of the Diamond Cup Hydroplane races, Coeur d’Alene YMCA, Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce, Kootenai County United Way, Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, Jobs Plus, Kootenai Health Resource Center, Kootenai Medical Center Foundation, Kootenai Cancer Center, the Festival of Trees, Idaho Youth Ranch, the Kroc Center and the Museum of North Idaho.

Tom enjoyed skeet and trap shooting, duck hunting, golf, fly fishing, gin rummy and supporting Stanford athletic teams. Tom loved live music, ranging from local acts like his recent favorite T & Company to Sandpoint Festival concerts featuring Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, which he sponsored through IFI, and the annual Spokane Symphony concert at the Hayden Lake Country Club. He attended virtually every home Stanford football game for decades, often inviting family and friends to California to tailgate and root for his favorite team with him. Tom’s sense of humor and public speaking made him a favorite choice as emcee for dinners, events and fundraisers. 

Tom is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sheila Gray Richards; son Tom (Kirste) Richards of Coeur d’Alene; daughter Lynn Richards (David) Stubbs of Holland, Mich.; grandchildren Nicolle Richards, Connor Stubbs, Jessica Richards and Anna Stubbs; nephews John (Kelly) Richards and David (Kali) Richards; and niece Morgan (Keanu) Richards Dyer.

There will be a celebration of life for Tom at the Hayden Lake Country Club on Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. If you will be attending, please let the family know for planning purposes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kootenai Health Foundation: kootenaihealthfoundation.org.

Yates Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. You can visit Tom’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.