The motorcycle world lost one of our most beloved members on August 9th. Rich Schultz’s friends had repeating comments in each of their statements following his passing. Intelligent, eloquent, great friend, wonderful, true gentleman, kind, soft-spoken, knowledgeable, spoke kindly of his family, especially his wife Jane and children, 100% AMCA, and the list goes on.
As much as we loved Rich and could not imagine he had any more time in his life outside of antique motorcycles, he was equally loved and dedicated to his past education career, community and family.
Both grandparents immigrated here from Germany in the 1880s. He graduated from Le Mars High, where he met his future wife Jane and was married for 75 years. He graduated from Iowa State University with a master's from the University of Iowa. He was the first President of Eastern Iowa Community College (now Scott Community College) from 1958 to 1976. He started the Motorcycle Mechanics program at Scott.
He loved his hometown of Le Mars. He designed the main gate at Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Volunteered on the Westmar Memorial Park and Veteran’s Memorial Park and was named Citizen of the Year in 2005 for his efforts.
His passion was old motorcycles including Harleys, Indians Fours, Henderson’s of which he wrote two coffee-table books and others. In all it was said that he restored 80 rare motorcycles to original condition.
Rich was the founder of the Davenport Chief Blackhawk Chapter of the AMCA in 1972. Seven years later he founded the “Blackhawk West” chapter which later became the Omaha Chapter. Of these chapter friends four became AMCA Honorary members, Rich, Howard Wagner, Conrad “Connie” Schlemmer and R.B. “Bob” McClean.
Rich and Jane were annual participants on the Black Hills Chapter road run, participating up to two years ago at the age of 94 on his 1934 Harley w/ sidecar. He supported our Canadian chapters. He once was one of the few AMCA “flat landers” who came to British Columbia for the Orca Chapter’s “Island Hopper” Road Run from Vancouver BC to the Gulf Islands. He also was an Honorary Life Member of the Buffalo Chapter after attending the Great Canadian Buffalo Hunt in 1991. It was AMCA’s first and only International Road Run.
Rich is the one who suggested to then President, Ross Metcalfe, to create the AMCA 50-Year Member program, of which he was one of the first recipients.
I wonder how many club members are also members of the exclusive Knights of the Brown Cotton Gloves fraternity? Each honor bestowed upon us by Sir Richard Schultz. Thanks to his friends for their contributions to these stories: John Crawford, Gene Harper, Mark “Landshark” LaFleur, Ross Metcalfe, Richard Spagnolli, and Doug Strange,
In the end, Rich was not ready to go. His mind was sharp as a tack. His body was ready to go, and Rich made the conscience decision to give in. I’m not sure how many of us had the opportunity to say goodbye to Rich but I know Mark LeFluer, Gene Harper, Doug Strange, Ross Metcalfe and myself can attest to the fact for each of us, that was the hardest phone call we ever made. I’ll speak for each of us that he praised and encouraged us to carry on with the vision that the AMCA Survive future generations of enthusiast regardless of the type of motorcycles that its members embrace. He would have more than many things wanted to see Chief Blackhawk come back to the AMCA fold, but that decision is hopefully for them to one day decide, and I hope it’s in Richard Schultz’s honor. - Keith Kizer