Richard E. Oglesby
Richard E. Oglesby a University of California, Santa Barbara Professor Emeritus in the field of American West and California History died March 6,2025 in his home in Santa Barbara surrounded by his family. He was born in Waukegan, Illinois on March 27,1931. He is predeceased by his parents Harold W. Oglesby and Hedwig L. Staranowicz and brother Robert H. Oglesby. He graduated from Northwestern University receiving his MA and PH.D. and taught history at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and University of Illinois at Champagne Urbana before moving to Santa Barbara in 1965 where he began teaching at UCSB. He taught history at UCSB for 28 years.
He is survived by his daughter Susan D. Santana of Omro, WI, companion Marilyn J. Benson of Santa Barbara and former wife Eugenia Basquin Oglesby of Fay Canyon, CA. Also many family members including the Bosio family of Santa Barbara, Benson family of Crossville, TN, Besse family of Northern California, Krause families of Los Angeles and Indiana and Basquin families of Indiana.
He had a strong interest in historic preservation as a longtime Board Member of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. He served in several officer positions including two terms as President and Chair of the Education Committee until retiring from the board in 2016. He was co-author of Santa Barbara A Guide to El Pueblo Viejo. He was a longtime Board Member of the Santa Barbara Conservancy and participated in the production of the Conservancy’s first publication, Stone Architecture in Santa Barbara.
Retiring in 1993, traveling and photography were his passions. He preferred driving vs. air travel. He and Marilyn traveled to Alaska, Canada and almost every state in the US.
In 1973 he became a Charter Member of the Santa Barbara Corral of the Westerners. He was a Sheriff in 1974 and was a Honorary Member of the Corral.
He is the author of Manuel Lisa and the Opening of the Missouri Fur Trade.
Your commitment to family and your quick “wit” will be missed by all.
