Richard Allen Slaby

Richard Allen Slaby, a community leader, died peacefully at home on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the age of 83 following a courageous battle with ALS. He was born on December 11, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Charles Otto Slaby and Mary Kahoun Slaby. He was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Otto Slaby, Jr., his son, Mathew Bryan Slaby, and Linda Dutton Slaby, his wife of 50 years.

Richard attended Augusta College for one year before transferring to the University of Georgia where he received a B.B.A. as well as a L.L.B. degree from the University of Georgia Law School in 1965. While at the University of Georgia School of Law, he served as a member of its Board of Governors and served as President of the Athens Legal Aid Society during the 1965 year. He was a member of the Augusta Bar Association, Council of Juvenile Court Judges of Georgia, and a former member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. He was a member of the State Bar of Georgia, The American Bar Association, and a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.

Richard was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to be Judge of the State Court of Richmond County, Georgia, Division One, from July 1997 to July 2017, having served as Chief Judge from 2010. He was appointed by Governor Purdue on August 1, 2017, to serve as a Senior Judge of the State Courts of Georgia. He served as a Senior Judge for State and Superior Court from January 1, 2018-2022. Richard also served as the President of the Council of State Court Judges 2016- 2017. Richard served his community and church and was involved in leadership roles in numerous organizations including: the Advisory Board of Child Enrichment Incorporated, the Kiwanis Club of Augusta (President 2002-2003), the Board of Trustees of The Augusta Museum of History, Member of Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic church, parish council member, and member of the Knights of Columbus. Also, he enjoyed volunteering as a literacy tutor at RISE Augusta, Inc. He was a member of the Augusta Country Club and the Augusta Heritage Club.

Richard lived a very full life with friends and family. One of his favorite activities was spending time with his two grandsons, coaching on the aspects of shooting and marksmanship. As a young boy, he spent time at his family’s retreat north of Chicago at Bear Lake where he fell in love with shooting. He spent over forty years becoming an A-player of tennis where he earned the nickname “Boom-Boom” as his serve was infamous, placing his opponent well behind the baseline for a fighting chance to return it. For decades you could find him every Saturday and Sunday afternoons playing a round robin with a group of men who all shared a great wealth of camaraderie which was always accompanied by much laughter and the competitive back and forth of who would win that given day.

Richard loved his dear friends he met in the daily breakfast club every morning at 7AM - rain or shine. There he would find himself among many intellectual and spirited conversations, pending the various subjects and current events of the day. True friendships developed among each of them over decades of banter and good times. He was affectionately and respectfully known as “Judge Perfect Hair”. Richard had a tremendous sense of humor. He was an avid gardener, methodically planting annuals and perennials, and tending to every detail in his yard, which was always perfect. He went as far to labeling each plant by genius and species. Richard will be missed by many of the lives he touched.

Richard is survived by his wife, Eleanor Harison Slaby, two children: Richard Allen Slaby, Jr. and wife, Soule Wilkin Slaby, Seth Douglas Slaby, and two grandsons: Richard Allen Slaby III and Hamner Crane Slaby.

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 14th from 5-7 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son on Davis Road. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, at Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic Church at 11:00 A.M. with Fr. Mark Ross officiating. Interment following at Westover Park.

Honorary pallbearers include Leroy Hampton Simkins, Donald Wayne Thompson, Ralph Brooks Scurry, Joseph Benjamin Kinsey, Lowell Russell Dorn, Franklin Gene Staulcup, Joseph Thomas Jackson II, Jeffery Marshall Gorelick, David Barry Surill, William Milton Hixon and William Wallace Zealy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Museum of History, RISE Augusta, Inc, or Saint Mary on The Hill Catholic Church.

The Slaby family would like to thank the compassionate care given by Leon Lewis, Gale Evans, Richard Dean, Charmaine Walker, Marshalla Baker, Tiffany Walker, Kevin D’Antignac, Nikki Rigney, Dana Edwards, Ronnie Thomas and Jeremiah Moss.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com.