Richard Baldwin Cravens was born in Excelsior Springs, MO on January 11, 1928 and died January 1, 2017 in Springfield, MO.  He was the son of E. Hugh and Jane Baldwin Cravens.

He received his undergraduate degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and his Masters and Doctorate Degrees from The Ohio State University.  He was a Clinical Psychologist with special interests in transcultural mental health issues, leadership and management development. While serving as assistant director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health in the early 1960s, Dr. Cravens was one of the first professionals involved in the national community mental health movement and developed the first publicly funded community mental health center in the country in Columbia, MO. During this time he worked closely with the late Judge Don Burrell and other Springfield leaders to develop and fund the Burrell Community Mental Health Center, now Burrell Behavioral Health.   Early in his career, he worked as a clinical psychologist in Oahu, Hawaii and San Francisco, but the majority of his career was spent developing and supervising mental health and health care programs for the Federal Government.  He held various positions with his last being in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health where he developed and served as director of health and mental health services for refugee camps throughout the world with an emphasis on Southeast Asia.

He was honored with a number of awards from Federal, State and Local governments as well as foreign countries for his work in assessing need and developing public mental health services.

After retirement, he was actively involved in community activities in Pensacola, FL and Springfield, MO.  He served on library boards in both Pensacola and Springfield, the Port of Pensacola board and the airport board in Springfield.  His interest in community development continued to the local level and he was often involved in local issues such as helping a neighborhood opposing encroachment by the airport in Pensacola and developing a property owners' association in Springfield.

He always liked things with wheels and raced cars, rode motorcycles and rode a bicycle more than 25 miles each morning.  He also enjoyed his boats on Lake of the Ozarks and waters on the Gulf Coast.  He was an avid reader who never stopped learning and being involved in the world around him.  He was a compassionate and kind man.

Dr. Cravens is survived by his wife of 44 years, Judy, two sons, Sherman (Stacy) and Todd (Kathryn), three grandsons, Caleb, Joshua and Samuel, and a nephew Richard Gemmell and his wife, Kristine Larson. He is also missed by his two Scotties, Dolly and Reba.

At his request there will be no service.  Donations may be sent to the Springfield Greene County Library for the renovation fund for the Brentwood Library. Online condolences may be made at www.gormanscharpf.com