Richard Lee "Dick" McDade was born January 30, 1938, in Urbana, to Marie and Sherman McDade. He was a fun-loving, spirited boy who, with his brother and best friend Ronnie, was often at loose ends as his mom did her best to keep five children in line.

In his sophomore year at Urbana High School, Warren Smith – "Smitty" to generations of Urbana athletes – became the football coach and changed Dick's life. Smitty gave direction to this talented but rambunctious young man, later telling the News-Gazette that Dick was a coach's dream. "You never have to tell him twice," Smitty said. "And he'll put in 100 percent all the time."

The News-Gazette named Dick their All-State halfback in 1955 and when interviewed about the honor Dick spent his time praising his coach and his teammates. "What good is any back if he doesn't have ten just as good – if not better – men beside him?"

The attitude he had as a teenage sports star was genuine, and would stay with him forever: grateful for what he had, thankful to the people around him, and humble about his accomplishments.

Dick earned a football scholarship to the University of Illinois, later graduating with both a BA and MSW. In 1959 he married Kay Gallagher. The McDades soon moved to Mattoon where they started a family while Dick worked for DCFS. They remained in Illinois until the early 1970s when, after the birth of their fifth child, they decided to see the world, and Dick joined the Air Force.

He never seemed to tire of travel. He was absolutely fascinated by the world and its people and he wanted to see as much of it as possible, preferably by car. With his wife as a willing accomplice and his children in tow, he went everywhere possible. He walked into East Berlin once, and was very happy to be able to walk out. A fan of James Herriot, he knocked on the author's Yorkshire door and was surprised when he answered; the two had a long and pleasant conversation. A devout Roman Catholic, he attended Christmas Mass at the Vatican; an avid golfer, he played a blustery round at the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Dick never knew a stranger and seemed at home wherever he went. He loved to give directions to anyone who asked – or even those who didn't – and was generous in a way that only people who grow up poor can be. The fact that he was not blessed with a good father seemed to make him want to become a great one. He was funny and smart and educated but still maintained for his whole life the loves he had as a boy: for cars and sports and dogs and planes.

He particularly loved planes from World War II, and when he lived in England for three years, he would drive from one abandoned Eighth Air Force base to another, at one point tracking down the one where Smitty had been stationed. Over the course of his life he got the chance to fly in all manner of military planes, from the B-17, his childhood favorite, to an F-15.

Dick and Kay lived in Europe for a total of nine years and would have stayed longer, but the one thing they loved more than travel – family – called them back home. They returned to central Illinois in 1999 and Dick re-connected with his high school friends, meeting with them regularly for the last decades of his life. He also continued to play in the Cunningham Children's Home Kendall Gill Golf benefit which, with his friend Richard Swearingen, he had done from its very beginning.

In their 65 years of marriage, Dick often went ahead to make arrangements at the new place they were moving to, then Kay and the kids would follow. This time she went first, dying on January 6th; he followed her two months later.

He is survived by four children, Pamela Manselle (Tim) of Tuscola, Traci Yingling (Harold) of Swansboro, NC, Amy Goudschaal (Mark) of Crystal Lake, and Travis McDade of Champaign, daughter-in-law Ginny McDade of Champaign, twelve grandchildren, Zachary McDade (Lauren), Lindsey Yingling, Patrick Manselle, Kaitlyn Yingling, Sam McDade, David Manselle, Rachel Manselle, Ryan Goudschaal, Ethan Goudschaal, Flannery McDade, Myrtle McDade and Fitzgerald McDade, and one great-grandchild, Paul McDade. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Kay, his son Paul, his parents, and siblings.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025, at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Arcola with Fr Michael Trummer as officiant.  Burial will follow in the Arcola Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on the same day, from 9:00-10:30 a.m.  Shrader Funeral Home, Arcola, is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made the Cunningham Children's Home, 1301 N. Cunningham, Urbana.

Online condolences may be shared at www.hilligossshraderfh.com.