1st Lt. “Dick” Richard Maxwell

Richard “Dick” Maxwell was born on August 22, 1933, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the youngest of five children (he had a twin brother, Donald). He left Pennsylvania to attend Duke University, where he completed an engineering degree in 1955.

During his time at Duke, Dick met his first wife, Martha Joe Padgette; they married soon after his graduation. Together they had four daughters.

After college, Dick served in the U.S. Air Force and attained the rank of first lieutenant.

In 1961, he moved to Greensboro. Fifteen years later he founded Maxwell Associates, a commercial real estate firm.
Later in life he married Martha “Marty” Maxwell in 1996.
He was active in public service: serving as Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, and also as Chairman of the Greensboro Coliseum Commission. In these roles he was instrumental in expanding the Coliseum and modernizing county services.

Dick Maxwell was deeply involved in civic and philanthropic work:
He was active in Rotary International, having served as President of the Crescent Rotary Club. In 1996 he received Rotary’s “Service Above Self” award, the highest honor in that organization.

He also served for ten years as a director of Operation Smile International, traveling globally for that cause.

He endowed an engineering scholarship at Duke University, served as President of the Duke Alumni Association, and was awarded the Charles A. Dukes award for Outstanding Service to the University.

After retirement, Dick and his wife Marty spent much time in Florida, where he had a home for nearly 35 years. They also had a summer home in Sugar Mountain, NC—a house he designed with dramatic views.

Richard “Dick” Maxwell passed away peacefully at his home in Greensboro on June 11, 2025 at age 91, surrounded by his family.