Richard Kidd, former Forest Grove mayor, city councilor, dies at 88

Forest Grove lost a leader, volunteer and community pillar this weekend — but what remains is a legacy of service.

Richard Kidd III, a former mayor who served in city leadership for over three decades, died Sunday, Oct. 6, at his Forest Grove home. He was 88.

A U.S. Army veteran, Kidd arrived in Forest Grove in 1970, initially assigned to assist the city’s National Guard armory. Though his military career later took him to assignments at Fort Lewis in Washington and the Presidio of San Francisco, he chose to make Forest Grove his permanent home.

When Kidd retired from the Army as a colonel in 1986, he marked the start of a new story of leadership. Just one year before leaving his military career, he joined the Forest Grove Planning Commission — a move that would launch him to city council for eight years before he was appointed mayor in 1993.

Despite losing a bid to retain the mayoral seat in 1994, the city would hardly say goodbye. He returned to the helm in 1998, followed by three reelections that landed him in the city’s highest office for nearly 12 years before he stepped down in 2009 for a Washington County commission run .

Pete Truax, who was appointed as the city’s mayor when Kidd resigned in 2009, remained a close friend over the years — serving alongside the leader when Kidd was elected for another term to city council from 2012 to 2016 .

According to Truax, Kidd’s tenure saw him advocate for Forest Grove on the regional level, representing the city on several Metro committees and as the former president of the Oregon Mayors Association.

Truax also highlighted major projects that Kidd oversaw, including the construction of the community auditorium next to city hall and transferring management of roads from state to city control.

Kidd also notably negotiated the sale of the Fern Hill Wetlands to Clean Water Services in an effort to boost the city’s budget, leading to improvements to Forest Grove’s watershed that was ultimately used to keep water rates down.

“He left city hall in better shape than when he found it,” Truax remarked. “Richard, in his somewhat idiosyncratic way, was a pretty forward-thinking individual.”

Building community

Outside the walls of city hall, Kidd (literally) built a legacy through his work with West Tuality Habitat for Humanity — a commitment that traces back to a stroll down Pacific Avenue a little over 20 years ago.

"As I walked by, there were a couple of individuals I knew who said, 'Hey, come here and hold this,'" Kidd recalled during a 2022 interview when he received a lifetime achievement award from the organization . "That was the beginning of over 20 years of work. I've worked on every house that West Tuality Habitat for Humanity has built in Forest Grove over the past 20 years."

He helped the organization grow from its early days focused on building homes in Forest Grove to expanding its reach across Washington County, with his leadership guiding land purchases, planning projects and increasing access to housing — he even led a long-standing power tool workshop that empowered others to build homes for themselves.

In recognition of his lasting contributions, Kidd Court, a development featuring seven homes built by West Tuality Habitat , was named in his honor.

Leading a life of service

The 88-year-old fought a long battle with blood cancer, with blood drives inspired by him dating back to 2016.

While his illness eventually forced him to step back from some of his public roles, Kidd never lost his focus on his family, supporting his son’s career with the Department of Defense and his grandson’s recent acceptance into the United States Military Academy West Point.

“He was hoping to stay around long enough to see his grandson graduate from West Point, but that just wasn't in the cards,” Truax said.

Even in his final years, Kidd remained a figure of inspiration deeply embedded in the community. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove for over 50 years and also recently served on the executive board of the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce, which awarded him not one but two Lifetime Achievement Awards — including one earlier this year .

“We are heartbroken by his passing, but we will always celebrate the example he set for us all — one of service, dedication and unwavering love for his community. His gracious spirit, sharp wit, and tireless work will be remembered for generations to come,” the chamber shared in a social media post .

When Kidd lost reelection for his city council seat in 2016 , Truax made a statement that continues to resonate: “(He) will always be a part of this city."

A celebration of life service is set for 2-4 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Forest Grove Senior Center, 2037 Douglas St. in Forest Grove.