Former Pennsylvania State Senator Richard Tilghman, Sr. 1921-2017; A Profile in Leadership, Honorable Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty and Unbridled Integrity
The entire Mischler Financial Group family extends our sincere condolences to our Managing Director & Head of Municipal Finance, Rick Tilghman, Jr. and his family. Rick’s Dad, Richard Tilghman, Sr., passed away in late February at the age of 96. A widely-regarded fixture in the State of Pennsylvania Senate, Richard Tilghman, Sr. was a decorated war hero who went on to serve Pennsylvania citizens for more than 30 years.
Illustrative of Senator Tilghman’s stature and life time accomplishments, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, the country’s first US Secretary of Homeland Security stated, “Mostly, I’ll remember Sen. Tilghman as a good and decent man —& a consummate gentleman — who served his constituents with distinction for many years. Michele and I extend our sympathies to the Tilghman family and friends.”
A strong advocate for veterans, Sen. Tilghman pushed through appropriations for the construction of the Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County. In 1999, he promoted the allocation of $2 million as Pennsylvania’s share of the funding for the National World War II Memorial in Washington.
Richard Tilghman, Sr. 1921-2017 photo DAVID SWANSON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, Philly.com
Once a Marine, Always a Marine, Senator Tilghman was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry while serving on Iwo Jima in 1945. Rick Jr., followed in his Dad’s boot steps; prior to his professional career serving municipal finance issuers across the municipal bond market, he too served in the US Marine Corp, and was also recognized for his heroism while serving in Vietnam. Rick continues to garner accolades from financial industry peers, institutional investors and municipal issuers throughout the US Municipal Finance arena.
In addition to Senator Tilghman’s long and esteemed role as Chairman of the Pennsylvania State Senate Appropriations Committee, for nearly four decades he continuously advanced legislative and funding initiatives to support military veterans, as well as funding programs for breast cancer research and community programs to assist those with disabilities throughout Pennsylvania. In 2000, Sen. Tilghman’s contributions were recognized when he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Hall of Fame, and awarded the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal for his “distinguished record of support for veterans’ programs and benefits while ensuring fiscal prudence in the expenditure of public funds.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Rick and his entire family and we are proud to shout out “Semper Fi!” in tribute to Richard Tilghman, Sr.
Walter Mischler (SDV), Founder & Chairman
Dean Chamberlain (SDV), Principal & Chief Executive Officer
Doyle Holmes, President & Chief Operating Officer
Memorial donations may be made to the Southeastern Veterans Center Resident Welfare Fund via donate.dmva.pa.gov, or the National MS Society at nationalmssociety.org/donate.
