October 16, 1941 - November 26, 2022 

Richard H. Mos, Jr., 81, died on Nov. 26, 2022 at Saint Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.  Known as Rick to all of his family, friends and business associates, he was articulate, educated and well-read, enjoying the art of study, reflection and conversation.  He had a keen sense of humor and thrived on bringing people together.  He enjoyed many enduring and often lifelong friendships.

Rick was born to Richard H. Mos (Sr.) and Henry Etta Mos of Kansas City, Mo. on Oct. 16, 1941.  Rick and his parents lived in Kansas City until December 1948 when they purchased a home in Platte County, Missouri, where Rick established great friendships and a sense of community that continued throughout his life.  He graduated from Park Hill High School (with fond memories of teachers Bill and Barbara Bucker) in 1959 and the University of Missouri in Columbia where he obtained both his undergraduate degree and in 1965 his law degree. Rick met and married his wife, Doneda J. (Ruth) Mos during their time at the University of Missouri.  She survives him, along with extended family and friends.

In his final year of law school, Rick was asked to clerk for attorney James Farley in Farley, Mo., and following his graduation, Rick began work as an attorney with the Farley Law Firm.  The firm later became the Farley & Mos Law Firm with Jim and Rick becoming law partners as well as good friends.  Jim Farley served as a mentor to Rick in their shared political interests. In September of 1974 Rick left the private practice of law to accept an appointment by Republican Gov. Kit Bond to the bench as Magistrate Judge of Platte County. (The Governor’s office wanted no announcement of the appointment of a Democrat, but word got out.) He served as Magistrate until Feb. 1, 1978 when he stepped down from the bench to join the family beer distribution business, High Life Sales Company, which was founded by his father.

Rick enjoyed people and was never lacking for someone to regale with his endless stories and observations. He particularly enjoyed his weekly lunches with his OFC group, as well as the multitude of movie luncheons he hosted at the Savoy restaurant in downtown Kansas City to discuss movies of interest to him. In addition, Rick was a train enthusiast after being lifted into the cab of a steam locomotive as a child.

Rick also was a history buff and an avid student of politics, spending his time reading, writing and studying about U.S. and Missouri history and politics whenever time would allow. Rick also organized and hosted annual townhall-style luncheons for a number of years, to bring colleagues and friends together with Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District representative, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, because he wanted to draw people together to hear first-hand about current events and the politics of Washington, DC.

Rick was a lifelong baseball fan and aficionado. He spent his childhood attending and discussing Athletics and Monarchs games with his father, later going on to become a Royals enthusiast. This culminated in a love of baseball that gave him many years of enjoyment, whether he was attending games, studying the history of baseball or talking about the changes to baseball’s rules over the years.  Friends and family will recall the countless hours spent talking about the designated hitter (which Rick disliked intensely) and its effect on the game of baseball!

We are grateful to the caring staff at Oakridge of Plattsburg, as well as the wonderful staff at both Saint Luke's Hospital and Saint Luke’s Hospice House. 

Rick enjoyed serving as a board member of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The family requests no flowers but asks rather that donations be made to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, 1616 East 18^th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108 or to a charity of your choice. 

In accordance with Rick’s wishes, no services are planned at the present time.  A celebration of his life may occur at a later date.