Professor Richard Proctor Swallow

Professor Richard Proctor Swallow, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away peacefully at the age of 95 in Austin, Texas on October 11, 2026. Richard was surrounded by his loving family and is now in his heavenly home.

Richard was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on October 28, 1930 to Chandler Eastman Swallow and Edith Vaughan Swallow. He was the youngest of three boys. In his youth, Richard looked up to his older brothers, Chandler E. Swallow Jr. and Austin B. Swallow. Richard’s brothers nicknamed him “Termite” since Richard was five years younger. The brothers enjoyed family trips to the Lincoln Woods near Saylesville in Lincoln, RI. Richard followed his brothers’ examples by having his own paper route, joining the Boy Scouts, and serving in the military. As a Boy Scout, Richard attended the 6th World Scout Jamboree in Moisson, France on the banks of the River Seine in 1947. He was elected the patrol leader for his troop.

Richard graduated from Providence Country Day School in 1948, Rhode Island School of Design in 1953 with a B.S. in Architecture, and M.I.T. in 1957 with a M.S. in Architecture.

After graduation from RISD, Richard served in the United States Marine Corps in Korea and reached the rank of 1st Lieutenant. The Marines put his architecture talents to good use, building Quonset huts and other service buildings.

In 1952, Richard met Gail Boyson Trumbull of Providence, Rhode Island in Newport. Coincidentally, they were both born at Lying-In Hospital in Providence three weeks apart. It was love at first sight. Richard and Gail were married on May 19, 1956 at the Central Congregational Church in Providence. They honeymooned in Florida and Havana, Cuba. They loved to travel to Plum Beach, RI after marriage and then to the Texas beaches and Taos, NM with their children – Caryn, Susan, Linda, and Charles. Richard and Gail also visited Japan several times along with many other locations: Canada, Europe and Mexico, where Richard studied their cultures and photographed their architecture and landscapes. Richard and Gail were married 54 years until Gail passed away in 2010. During Gail’s last years in memory care, Richard was faithfully by her side every day.

In 1957, the proud new parents moved to Austin, Texas with baby Caryn. Richard accepted a teaching position at the University of Texas in the School of Architecture. Richard had many duties and titles during his career at UT. Among them was teaching 1st and 3rd year design classes (his favorite), chair of the Architectural Graduate Studies Committee, Faculty Council and overseeing many design projects. Design projects special to him included the Beuscher Science Park in Bastrop, TX sponsored by Dr. R. Lee Clark with M.D. Anderson Hospital and several projects related to less fortunate areas such as the Kenya Children’s Home. Richard was involved with several projects on both sides of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. During this time, Richard developed a small private practice designing several projects in the Taos Ski Valley and in Austin. Richard’s favorite hobby was drawing.

In 2007, Richard retired from UT after 50 years of teaching, guiding, and coaching students. Richard retired as a Professor Emeritus and with the Paul Philippe Cret Centennial Teaching fellow in Architecture. Several of Richard’s students are very successful independent architects and architects at established firms locally and internationally. Richard was a long-time member of the American Institute of Architecture (AIA). Upon his retirement, Richard donated his extensive collection of architectural and related books to the University of Texas Library. In 2012, Richard returned to UT to showcase his “Maquettes”. The over 1,000 expressive and whimsical sculptures he made were exhibited at Goldsmith Hall. His art medium consisted of junk mail, brochures, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls and packing material. The pieces were created by cutting and folding the materials to occupy his time after the loss of his wife.

Richard was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church for many years where he sang in the choir, was a member of the Men in the Word bible study, and served as a Deacon.

Richard will be remembered for his creativity, generosity, sense of humor, and always being a gentleman.

Richard is survived by his children – Caryn Myers of Chicago, Susan Ashton (Dave) of Austin, Linda Mann (Gerald) of Dallas, and Charles Swallow of Austin; Grandchildren – Jonathan Ashton, Sarah Stresing (David), Jennie Archer (Nate), Katherine Ashton, Lapras Myers, Paul Myers, Marshall Mann, Elizabeth Mann, and Robert “Bobby” Swallow; Great Grandchildren – Christopher Stresing, Charlotte Stresing, Warren Archer, Sterling Archer, and Layla Archer.

The family would like to recognize the loving staff at Brookdale NW Hills, the loving staff at Arden Courts, the staff and volunteers of Hospice Austin and the staff of Kindful Health Hospice for their excellent care of Richard.

In memory of Richard, please consider deepening your faith, loving nature, being kind to your neighbors and treating everyone with respect.