A look back: July 17, 1972

Col. William G. Richards, a native of Coaldale, is the new commanding officer of the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

The new commander succeeded Col. Robert A. Cheney during a change in command ceremony Friday afternoon at the base before the depot’s 3,500 military and civilian personnel.

Col. Richards is a Coaldale High School graduate who has served as deputy commander at Tobyhanna since he arrived there last March. He previously served in the same capacity at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg.

He and his wife Joan are the parents of three sons, William, 22; Robert, 20; and Bruce, 18.