1934 - 2023

The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library honors the memory of our colleague and friend Richard Heusel. Richard passed away on May 19, 2023 and he will be greatly missed by this museum.

Richard was instrumental in the establishment of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library in 2008, after Joe and Katie Jackson’s personal home was moved to be across the street from the newly built Fluor Field. Richard was one of the original members of the museum’s Board of Directors.

Richard’s passion was to see the museum “become a destination and resource for both children and adults locally, nationally and internationally. It must visibly show the positive aspects and achievements of Joe’s life, not only as a superb athlete, but also an astute businessman, and a loving husband to Katie. It must also include those misfortunes which he endured.”

Textiles consumed 50 years of Richard’s professional life. After starting his career with a decade at Louisville Textiles, Richard moved to Piedmont Plush Mills for 12 years, serving as its President. Richard then founded KM Fabrics, acting as their CEO for 28 years before retiring in 2007.

KM Fabrics is the mill adjacent to Brandon Mill in Greenville, where Joe Jackson worked as a child. Joe became the team’s star ballplayer, honing the skills that eventually led him to the third highest career batting average (.356) in the history of Major League Baseball. Richard owned the property next to Brandon Mill, and, in support of what was to come, he deeded it to the City of Greenville. That park is now known as Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park, and features a ball field on the same spot as the one where Joe formerly played for Brandon.

Richard always supported the arts and acted on his belief in community development. His commitment went far beyond words, as he was a Board Member on each of the following institutions:

- Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art
- The Historic Winyah Auditorium
- The Textile Hall Corporation (Chairman)
- Governors School of the Arts and Humanities Foundation  
- Greenville Technical College Foundation
- Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Peace Center of the Performing Arts (Original Board Member)
- Carolina Blood Center (Chairman)
- The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina

Richard was extremely proud of one of his most favorite accomplishments - initiating the development and growth of the arts district, now known as “The Village of West Greenville.”  

He was a good and faithful servant.