Richard R. Carter

Richard Ray Carter was born on June 23, 1947, in Washington, D.C., and was adopted by Melvon and Lydia Carter.¹ Melvon was a long-time carpenter and storekeeper at the White House.² It later became a family affair. Melvon helped several family members obtain jobs on the Residence Staff, including his nephews, Bonner and Howard Arrington. Richard also started working there in January 1974.³ 

Richard Carter worked as an engineer for eight presidents, and his duties included the maintenance of HVAC, plumbing and refrigeration systems throughout the Residence. Carter retired from the White House in September 2010.⁴ Outside of work, Carter “only had one hobby and that was enjoying his family.”⁵ He passed away on July 5, 2020, and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Maryland.⁶