Fort Ord Arts & Crafts Center
Director
Richard Edward Puckett
Mr. Puckett was the Department of Defenseās most important Art & Crafts
Branch Director. He put the Fort Ord Arts Center on the map as the
largest Army Arts and Crafts Installation in the world during 1960 to
1986.
Richard Puckett began his career of thirty years with the Armed Forces
in 1956 when he accepted the position of Assistant Arts and Crafts
Director at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. His dedication and enthusiasm
quickly earned him a promotion to Arts and Crafts Director, Assistant
Special Services Officer and later was appointed Museum Director of
Fort Sheridan, Illinois form 1957 to 1958. He had been asked to design
and build the museum utilizing prison labor and donations at no expense
to the Army. After completion he then transferred to Camp Irwin,
California where he built up an Arts and Crafts Program.
Mr. Puckett transferred to Fort Ord in February 1960, where he received
18 outstanding awards. In the following 27 years he built the largest
and most impressive Arts and Crafts Program in the Department of
Defense. His program included over 2,500 formal classes each year in
65 disciplines with a daily average of 700 participants. His program
was used as the model for the entire US Army. In early 1967 Mr.
Puckett took on the duties of directing the opening of the Presidio of
Monterey Museum. He directed the operations of building display cases
and setting up the exhibits, cataloguing and carrying out the necessary
work to complete the Museum. In 1982 the Department of Army changed
polices requiring different programs to be changed from free over to
income producing activities for the soldiers. Mr. Puckett was the
first to utilize commercial car washes owned and operated by the Arts
and Crafts Center. He opened four car washes which were all very
profitable for the arts program. Mr. Puckett directed Army special
conferences and hands on workshops at Fort Ord and directed four Arts
and Crafts Director Workshop Conferences for the Sixth US Army
The commanding General honored Mr. Puckett with a Special Certificate
of Appreciation and received an outstanding performance award, which
was the first given to an Arts and Crafts Staff member in the Sixth US
Army area. Also for his recognition he received the Commanders Medal,
the highest award a Commander can give a civilian employee. Mr. Puckett
received more awards during his 30 year professional career than any
other Installation Arts and Crafts Director in the Army.
Mr. Puckettās life has been entirely dedicated to teaching and
activating people to be original and productive in the arts, and to
utilize their own talents for success. He has been responsible for many
participants becoming full-time artist and crafts people after their
tours of duty had been completed with the military. Many of his
students have shown in local galleries due to the advanced quality of
levels in his fine art programs. A large number of his staff, which
he trained, have gone on to become Crafts Directors, teachers,
Recreation and Fund Officers. Mr. Puckett retired in 1986 and is now
devoting his time to painting, consulting, travel, collecting art,
gardening and writing a book on the Fort Ord Arts & Crafts History.
Mr. Richard Edward Puckett is listed in the Whoās Who in the World for
Contribution in the Field of Arts and Crafts.
The Army recognized the help of the arts into its everyday military
application. They saw painting and drawing to improve visual skills,
such as powers of observation, and coordination of eye, mind and hand,
required for artillery, infantry and all forms of marksmanship.
Photography was basic to a communications and precise laboratory
techniques necessary in the Chemical Corps. Pottery, ceramics and
lapidary materials lead to greater awareness and knowledge of terrain
and environment. Jewelry and precious metals required small tools and
detailed operations, demanding concentration, which are requisites for
dentist, surgeons, rifle repairmen and mechanics of auto, aviation, and
missile training. Many art classes developed college credits for
soldiers pursing degrees. Overall the arts offered food for the human
psyche, an element of morale that allows for individual expression
though creative freedom. The arts benefited the soldier with physical
and mental therapy, activating motor skill development plus stress
reduction. Art activities promoted self reliance and self-esteem.
This became the basis for the "Morale Program".
"One if the first programs to catch enthusiasm was techniques in
porcelain, including English Wedgwood methods, which I introduced as
soon as materials could be obtained. It became so popular that I
needed help to handle the many participants". R. Puckett, Director
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