Ricardo "Rick" S. Langford Jr., of Columbia, died June 16, 2008 of cardiac arrest, at Howard County General Hospital. He was 69.

Born Dec. 13, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Samuel R. and Alma L. Langford, he graduated from Glenville High School in 1957.

In his yearbook, he was listed as the "Most Friendly." Family members said that he was responsible for starting lunch time "Teen Time Activities" while a student there.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1957 and was based at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, as well as in Sculthorpe, England, where he refueled aircraft. He was discharged in 1961.

He married Margaret Smith in 1963.

In 1962, he worked as a salesman for the Bond Bread Co., in Cleveland, for five years. Family members said that he was one of the first black men to hold this position with the company. Six years later, Mr. Langford worked as a national sales representative for Ernest and Julio Gallo Wines, in Columbus, Ohio, for five years. Family members said that he was also one of the first black men to obtain this position, which required him to travel across the country, developing markets, promoting sales and writing public relations correspondence.

Mr. Langford and his family relocated from Columbus to Columbia in 1973, due to his position as a general sales manager for Foreman Brothers Distributors in Washington, D.C., where he was employed for five years.

In 1978, he began working as a regional sales representative with Schieffeilin and Somerset Company Importers, in New York, where he was employed for at least 10 years.

After developing a friendship with Jesse Wong in 1990, he began working as a consultant and partner for Wong in some of his restaurants throughout Howard County, including Hunan Manor; Asean Bistro; and Jesse Wong's Hong Kong restaurant, where Mr. Langford coordinated the annual charity fundraiser, the Disability Awareness Program for the Howard County Public School System.

Mr. Langford served as an officer on the board of the Restaurant Association of Maryland for Howard County for at least three years.

Remembered as a loving, affectionate father and husband, he was always available for family and friends. Mr. Langford was an avid golfer, who enjoyed reading the newspaper, watching news broadcasts, talking about politics and watching all types of sporting events, especially golf. Family members also recall that people loved his barbecue ribs, and that he enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

In addition, family members recall that Mr. Langford genuinely cared for people, and was a happy and positive person, whose infectious personality could draw others into his circle. Dubbed the "Mayor of Columbia" by a friend, he traveled frequently to such locales as China, Mexico and South Africa, and is remembered for his ability to make friends wherever he went. Some of those that knew him considered him as a second father.

In addition to his wife of 44 years, Mr. Langford is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Tina Sanders, of Ellicott City, and Toni and Wesley Samuel, of Upper Marboro; a sister, Rosina Jackson, of Springfield, Va.; a brother and a sister-in-law, Raphael and Julie Langford, of Baltimore; his mother-in-law, Ollie Morales, of Columbia; two nieces, Traci and her husband, Chip Hopkins, of Springfield, and Dawn Langford, of Washington, D.C.; a nephew, Russell Jackson, of San Francisco; three aunts; five grandchildren; and many cousins and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held June 24, 2008, at Celebration Church, in Columbia.

Interment followed at Columbia Memorial Park, in Clarksville.

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