THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE  Trooper Richard G. Barnhart Pennsylvania State Police Troop "B-1" 1927-1964

Incident Details

Richard G. Barnhart was born May 17, 1927, at New Florence, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

He served with Battery B, 6th Field Artillery Battalion, United States Army, from February 27, 1947, to August 3, 1948.

Trooper Barnhart enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police from New Florence on November 15, 1951, and was assigned to Troop B-1, Washington. He was 24 years old and 5'11" tall.

At 11:50 p.m. on August 8, 1964, Trooper Barnhart and Trooper Ralph S. Kendall were checking out a drag race incident on Route 112 near Republic, Fayette County. As the Troopers pursued the racers, a vehicle operated by Darwin Hennessy of Cardale pulled onto the highway from a service station. Hennessy struck the patrol vehicle. Trooper Barnhart died at the scene of the accident. Trooper Kendall suffered a broken arm and leg. He was treated at Brownsville Hospital.

Trooper Barnhart is buried in Saint Mary's Cemetery, North Union Township, Uniontown.

He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Maryanne L. Barnhart, a 20-month-old daughter, Marlene, and a 6-month-old son, Richard, Jr., of Hopwood.

At 37, Barnhart had completed 12 years and 9 months of Pennsylvania State Police service.