Richard N. Takechi - Inducted in 1996
| Richard Takechi received his B.S. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He holds the distinction of being the first Japanese ancestry person to be elected to a large Midwest metropolitan-class city in 1977 when he was elected to the Omaha City Council in the last city wide election. In 1981, the city was divided into districts, and he has been reelected by the fifth district several times since 1985. He was appointed by Governor Orr, and re-appointed by Governor Nelson to serve on the Nebraska Intergovernmental Communications Advisory Board, created by the legislature to develop and review policies so state computer systems are developed to interface between state agencies and local governments. An important issue for Mr. Takechi with any topic discussed by the Council is the wise use of taxpayer dollars. One example of this is his extensive work with other cities regarding recycling and composting ideas for Omaha. Another important decision was giving a cable franchise. The city was able to negotiate more public access channels, have the City Council and County Board meetings televised, and until FCC rules changes, had a free basic package. Mr. Takechi was involved in the beginning of the Omaha Sister City program with Shizuoka, Japan. Several programs have been initiated to develop better cultural understanding between our cities and countries. One of the most successful programs has been in education. Today, more than a hundred students come yearly, to UNO, Creighton and St. Mary's. Some current affiliations include the Advisory Board for United Way; Board Director for the Omaha-Shizuoka, Japan Sister City Association, and a member of the Omaha-Braunschweig, Germany Sister City Association; as well as positions for Greater Omaha Youth Salute, National Youth Leadership Committee, Japanese American Citizen League, Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and Omaha Lions Club. Mr. Takechi also works with Takechi's Jewelers, the family business founded by his father. He and his wife, Chizuko, have two children, Larry and Vicki. |