Obituary of Richard M. Hyman

His family includes his daughter, Mary Winder and her husband Lester of Troy, Kansas; and daughter, Susan Borden and her husband Peter of St. Paul, Minnesota; son, Richard Hyman, Jr. of Fall River, Massachusetts; and granddaughters Ginger, Elizabeth, and Abby Winder. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Virginia, and sister Marilyn Bradley. Richard was born on July 1, 1920 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Arthur and Marian (Wynkoop) Hyman. He graduated with a B.A. from University of Toledo in 1943 where he majored in Industrial Management and Economics. Mr. Hyman served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946 in the 13th Airborne Division & Ordnance Department during WWII. He married Virginia M. Vick on August 31, 1951; they were married for almost 30 years, until her death in 1981. For nearly 40 years Richard was employed at Owens Brush Company in Iowa City, Iowa, world’s largest producer of toothbrushes and major manufacturer of hairbrushes, he retired on January 1, 1985. During his employment, he conceived and produced six T.V. and Educational films on dental hygiene, which won numerous awards and were shown in over 25 countries. Richard served as Vice President of the company for 24 years, and was loaned out to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Washington, D.C., for 8 month in 1950, as an industrial specialist for National Production Authority. Having been issued a number of patents on toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and toothbrush packages, he was internationally recognized as a toothbrush expert and designer. Mr. Hyman was a past president (two years) of the American Brush Manufacturers’ Association, past member of Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of S.E. Iowa and winner of Contribution to Handicapped Award in 1976. He was active in numerous civic and charitable organizations, including Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, Iowa City Optimists, Rotary International, University of Iowa Alumni Association; he was also the winner of the Friend of Education Award in 1976 from the Iowa City Education Association. His passion for the community extended to his work with the Iowa City Public Library, Safety Village, and Oaknoll Retirement Residence where he served on the Board of Directors. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Iowa City Library or the Iowa City Humane Society.