Richard B. Wathen (June 26, 1917 – March 14, 2001) was an American (Indiana) politician, journalist, and author. He was a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives between 1973 and 1990.
Wathen was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He comes from a family of Kentucky Bourbon makers. His father Otho H. Wathen, President of American Medicinal Spirits Company, and his brother Otho H. Wathen, Jr. were in the distilling business. He attended Princeton University. He received his law degree from Indiana University in 1942 and was admitted to the Indiana Bar. As World War II was going on, joined the United States Navy as an officer serving on the aircraft carrier Guadalcanal (CVE-60). He was part of the party that captured the German submarine the U-505 on June 4, 1944 and received a Presidential Unit Citation. He later rose to the rank of Commander.
While serving his country took Wathen away from home for many years, including a lot of time in Washington, upon his father's death in 1964, Wathen returned home to Jeffersonville, Indiana. He practice law there for many years. In addition to his service in the Indiana House of Representatives, Wathen once challenged Congressman Lee H. Hamilton but was not successful.
Wathen had three children one of whom also became an attorney. Out of his seven grandchildren, Alexander B. Wathen also followed the family calling and currently practices law in Texas. One of Wathen's sons and one of his grandchildren also served in the military.
Wathen died on March 14, 2001, from throat cancer after a few months of illness.
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