Gould bids El Campo farewell
By QUALA MATOCHA lifestyle@leader-news.com
Praising God through worship. That's how the Rev. Richard "Dick" Gould will close his final chapter as pastor of First Presbyterian Church.

The Rev. Richard "Dick" Gould, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, recently announced his retirement. He and wife Mary will be making their home in New Mexico. While the Goulds have lived in El Campo the longest of any place, they leave with some reluctance. Gould feels blessed to have known so many wonderful people in a town they have called home for almost 28 years. Gould's last day in the pulpit will be Sunday. The public is invited to a reception in his honor at 5 p.m. Sunday at the El Campo Civic Center. Contributed Photo

For more than 27 years, the Rev. Richard "Dick" Gould has served the members of First Presbyterian Church and the El Campo community. He recently announced his retirement.

announced his retirement. His last time in the pulpit will be this Sunday. A farewell reception will follow at 5 p.m. at the El Campo Civic Center Duson Room. The public is invited to attend.

Considered as the second longest serving minister in El Campo, Brother Richard DuBroc being the other, Gould intended to stay here for only a few years, but those years turned into decades.

Gould and his wife Mary came to El Campo in March 1980. She instantly became a teacher at the church's preschool and then served as director.

As their children became college-bound she gave up that position for a better paying one. She taught first grade in the public school system for 39 years, first in Sugar Land and then in El Campo.

"She touched a lot of lives - a lot of little souls in preschool and public school," he said.

Today, Gould is amazed at the young men who stop to give her a hug, simply because she was one of their favorite teachers.

Ashley and Eric, who are both married, live in Austin. The Goulds have a 3-year-old grandson, Jacob.

El Campo was home to the Goulds for almost three decades.

"We have lived in Texas longer than anywhere," he said.

Although born and raised in Colorado, Gould admits he is more Texan than anything.

"People say I talk, walk and think like a Texan," he said. "So Texas has become home. We are leaving with some reluctance though."

Uprooting from the town they called home for so long, the couple will be settling in a small village, Arroyo Seco, N.M., located 10 miles north of Taos.

As a pastor for 38 years, Gould has spent the majority of his time in El Campo. Gould, a native of Pueblo, Colo., attended the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo working his way through college as a photographer. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology.

He came to Texas in 1968 to attend Presbyterian Seminary in Austin and in June of 1971 became an ordained minister. After his ordination he served as the associate pastor of Broadmoor Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, La. He and Mary Liles of Lake Charles, La. married in June 1979.

The journey that led him to El Campo was perhaps by circumstance. John Evans, formerly of First Presbyterian, was a good friend of Gould's during seminary. Evans, knowing that his local congregation was in need of a pastor, put in a good word for Gould.

"He felt that El Campo First Presbyterian and Richard Gould were a perfect match," he said. "And he was right."

"There are wonderful people in El Campo," Gould said. "I have been fortunate to have a congregation bigger than a church. We have met so many wonderful people. As a pastor I have shared the high and low points in people's lives. I have shared with a lot of people - many who were Presbyterian and many who were not."

Gould sees the move from Texas to New Mexico as a good one.

"I hate to move that far from our children, but my parents are ailing and I will be only two hours away. I am going to help out when they need me." As the oldest of five children he believes he has more of an opportunity to help his parents.

The decision to locate in New Mexico came after several visits there.

"We have always enjoyed the mountains, and started to vacation in New Mexico as a result. Our son was doing a destination wedding there," he said. "He picked out a bed and breakfast on the Internet and it turned out to be exquisite. So we went back."

After numerous vacations there, the Goulds decided to look for property. "And one thing led to another," he said. "We just closed on a 50-year-old farm house that has been remodeled a couple of times and is surrounded by 50 Aspen trees."

Even though Gould has retired as a pastor, he plans to continue with church related work and programs.

"I have confidence that something will present itself," he said in reference to what he will be doing to occupy his life of retirement.

"It's going to be a brand new life."

Gould hopes his last day in the pulpit "won't be a terrible one. It is worship Sunday, and I am going to do what I'm called to do and will do," he said. "And that is to glorify God."