Richard Hutch, B.D.

After graduating from YDS, I got a Ph.D. In Religion and Psychological Studies at the University of Chicago in 1974. My career has been an academic one ever since, first at Southern Illinois University until 1978, and then seamlessly at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia until 2013. Five books were produced on religious leadership in world religions, biography and autobiography as religious narrative and sport and spirituality. Not long after arriving in Australia, I met and married Glenda, who is a senior executive in the Australian Federal Government. We lived in Sydney for five years for her work in immigration, 2012-2017. We have two grown daughters who are professionally employed in their own rights, and also who have good lads for partners, whom we like. We all live in Brisbane, which underscores an enjoyable family life together (no one refuses an invitation to Sunday lunch if I do my barbecued ribs). Glenda and I have travelled a fair bit over the years: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, United States, Kuala Lumpur, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, U.K., Ireland, Fiji, Turkey and India. During my career, I have enjoyed regular lap-swimming in local 50 metre pools, rose to the occasion of solo-sailing a 27' sailboat for ten years until 2006 and carried on seeking thrills (albeit for one spill) on a 900 cc Triumph motorcycle, which I sold two years ago much to the relief of my family. We all enjoy our seaside condo an hour's drive north from Brisbane: it overlooks the Coral Sea. I am an avid ocean swimmer well out beyond the breakers. For more years than not, I have lived Down Under. I am a dual citizen of Australia and the United States, though I have for a long time identified mostly as an Australian. My family no longer hear too many vestiges of a Yankee accent, and when in America I can usually pass as a “fair dinkum” bloke. Cheers to the Class of 1970!