Brooks, Richard H. (1926-2011)

Archaeologist Richard Howard Brooks was born in Big Pine, California on July 5, 1926. He joined the Navy at age 15 and began his college education after his military service. Brooks earned a PhD in archaeology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He married Sheilagh Thompson in 1951 and the couple had two daughters, Kathleen and Carolyn.

Richard Brooks began working at Nevada Southern University (the future University of Nevada, Las Vegas) in 1966 as an archaeologist and research associate for the Desert Research Institute. He later became director of the Desert Research Institute and was instrumental in the creation of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History, where he also served as director. He also co-founded Archeo-Nevada in Las Vegas and the Nevada Archeological Association. Richard and Sheilagh worked together on several archaeological digs, including Tule Springs and the Stewart and Kiel Ranch burial sites. Richard Brooks passed away on June 24, 2011.

Source:

”Richard Brooks Obituary.” Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 30, 2011.