His California license plates read, "UARULES," and everyone who knew him said he was a "true-blue" university supporter.

Richard D. Garcia was a former UA student-body president and the assistant director of development in the Southern California area UA alumni office.

"He pioneered new ground for us at the alumni office," said Kent Rollins, director of the office.

Garcia, who was 26, was murdered in Tucson 10 years ago this month.

It was May 29, Memorial Day Weekend, when police found him in his hotel room at the Sheraton Pueblo Inn, 350 S. Freeway St.

Garcia was in town on business and his death is still a mystery.

The autopsy showed he had been suffocated but police did not have enough evidence to arrest anyone for the murder.

His mother, Anna Garcia, said Richard was always trusting and nice. She said those two qualities are probably what got him in trouble that night.

"It is a shame that someone with so much talent loses his life so early to a senseless murder," Rollins said. "He was a great man. We still miss him around (the alumni office)."

Garcia graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in history in May 1982. He was awarded the Merrill P. Freeman Medal for outstanding male senior.

After graduation, he attended the UA Law School for about a year but decided becoming a lawyer was not for him.

"He was more inclined to be out and working with people," Rollins said.

His mother said he had many contributions working with students as a student leader. Richard graduated as the valedictorian of his class at Bisbee High School.

Before he became student-body president of the UA, his mom said she was walking by the ASUA office with her son when he said, "See that office, mom. One day I'm going to be president." And he was, from 1981 to 1982.

"When he said he was gonna do something, he did it," Anna said.

While he attended the university, in addition to serving as student body president, Garcia was a resident assistant at Graham-Greenlee Residence Hall.

Garcia had such a good rapport with residents of this hall that after he died, his friends raised enough money to dedicate the courtyard located between the two halls in Richard's name.

During his college career, he played trumpet for the UA band and was a member of the Chain Gang Honorary for juniors and the Bobcats, a senior honorary group. He also helped with the Desert yearbook.

"Anything that had to do with the university he wanted to get involved with," Anna said.

Mike Low, assistant director of the Student Union, said he and Richard met when Richard was an undergraduate student, but later, they grew to be close friends.

Low, advisor of Chain Gang, said, "I talk about Richard every year to new members of (the honorary). I talk about him because he represents what I consider to be the best at the university."

Anna said he was an excellent student with high hopes and many dreams. "He did a lot in the 26 years he was here," she said.

While in Southern California, Garcia was in charge of setting up the new UA Alumni Office in Los Angeles in Century City's Twin Towers Building. He was involved with student recruitment and student relations by increasing the attendance and the interest of UA alumni in university activities.

Rollins said his work in this area was extremely beneficial because there are over 20,000 alumni who reside there.

This office in Southern California closed because of budget cuts. Rollins said this is very unfortunate because of how advantageous Garcia's work at the office and to the association.

"He really did something for us. We still continue to trade on alumni that Garcia brought in," Rollins said.

He said Garcia was a master at getting things done with people, including the administration and the faculty, because he was persistent but easy to deal with.

The Alumni Association raised $15,000 for the Richard Garcia Room which is located in the Alumni Office, Swede Johnson Building, 1111 N. Cherry. It was set up in 1992 in memory of Richard.

Alumni who attended school with Richard and who later worked for the Proctor and Gamble Company dedicated a scholarship in Richard's name.

Anna Marie Chalk from the Alumni Office said they have not awarded this scholarship for three years now, but they are trying to continue it with Procter & Gamble Co. She said the problem is that many of these alumni no longer work with the company and the company itself has gone through some structural changes.

The Richard D. Garcia Memorial Scholarship was awarded every year to a junior or senior with at least a 2.75 grade point average and who has demonstrated leadership in student government, residence life, or honorary service organizations.

On April 2, 1987, the First Annual Tour of Tucson, which is a bike tour, was just another one of the things dedicated in memory of Richard.

He was a man who was loved by all who knew him.

Richard is buried in his hometown of Bisbee, Arizona, about 90 miles south of Tucson.

Rollins said there was standing room only in the church where the funeral was held. It was filled to capacity with fans and loved ones who came many distances to pay their respects.

Richard was survived by his father, Richard T. Garcia; mother, Anna; brother, Martin; and sister, Rosanna.