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Dick Stallings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theIdaho Democratic Party | |
| In office March 2005 – December 20, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Mauk |
| Succeeded by | R. Keith Roark |
| United States Nuclear Waste Negotiator | |
| In office 1993–1995 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | David H. Leroy |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIdaho's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | George V. Hansen |
| Succeeded by | Mike Crapo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Howard Stallings (1940-10-07)October 7, 1940 Ogden, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 2025(2025-10-26) (aged 85) Pocatello, Idaho, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Weber State University (BS) Utah State University (MS) Colorado College (attended) |
Richard Howard Stallings (October 7, 1940 – October 26, 2025) was an American politician who served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives forIdaho's 2nd congressional district from 1985 to 1993.
Richard Stallings was born inOgden, Utah, to Howard and Elizabeth (née Austin) Stallings in 1940. Richard was raised in Ogden along with his younger sister, Marilyn. He grew up active inScouting, earning the rank ofEagle Scout at age 16, and a year later theSilver Award.[1] Stallings was a graduate of theBen Lomond High School class of 1958. He served as amissionary forThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand from 1960 to 1962. He earned a Bachelor of Science in history andpolitical science from Weber State College, then went on to earn a Master of Science in history fromUtah State University, having fulfilled a portion of his Master's studies atColorado College.
Stallings taught history atBrigham Young University–Idaho inRexburg, Idaho from 1969 until his election to Congress in 1984.
Idaho Democrats nominated Stallings to challenge four-term Republican incumbentGeorge V. Hansen in 1982, but he lost in the general election. In 1984, after Hansen wascensured by the House of Representatives, Stallings defeated him in a hotly contested race by fewer than 200 votes.[2] Despite representing a heavily Republican district, Stallings was re-elected three times.
A conservative Democrat, Stallings unexpectedly received three votes for the presidential nomination fromanti-abortion delegates at the1988 Democratic National Convention.[3]
Stallings was the Democratic nominee in 1992 for an open seat in theUnited States Senate, but lost toDirk Kempthorne, the popular two-term mayor ofBoise.
In 1993, Stallings was appointedUnited States Nuclear Waste Negotiator by PresidentBill Clinton and served in that capacity until the office was eliminated in early 1995.
Stallings attempted to win his old House seat back in 1998, but was defeated bystate house SpeakerMike Simpson ofBlackfoot in the general election. The seat was open, as three-term incumbentMike Crapo successfully ran for an open seat in the U.S. Senate.
After leaving Congress, Stallings later served as executive director of the Pocatello Neighborhood Housing Services and later on thePocatello, Idaho, City Council from 2001 to December 20, 2007.[4]
In 2005, Stallings won election[5] as chairman of theIdaho Democratic Party. Stallings was re-elected state Democratic chair in 2007. Stallings resigned on December 20, 2007.[6]
On March 14, 2014, Stallings filed to run as the Democratic candidate for his old U.S. House seat in Idaho's Second Congressional District.[7] He was the Democratic nominee after the uncontested primary election,[8] but was defeated by Simpson in the general election.[9]
Stallings and his first wife Ranae Garner, who died in 2015, met while classmates at Weber State College.[10] The couple were married in 1963 in theSalt Lake Temple in a ceremony officiated bySpencer W. Kimball.
In 2018, Stallings met, and in the same year married his second wife, Rebecca "Becci" Richards. Becci is the granddaughter of Latter-day Saint apostle,LeGrand Richards, and is also the matriarch of the Jacobs family of entertainers, whose work spans decades of film and television, as well as being the creators ofYo Gabba Gabba! andThe Aquabats!. Becci stayed by Richard's side for seven more years until his death.
Stallings died inPocatello, Idaho, on October 26, 2025, at the age of 85.[11]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIdaho's 2nd congressional district 1985–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromIdaho (Class 3) 1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theIdaho Democratic Party 2005–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Territorial (1863–1890) |
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| Oneat-large seat (1890–1913) |
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| Two at-large seats (1913–1919) |
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| Districts (1919–present) |
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