A 6'11" center born in Portland, Oregon, Washington played high school ball at Portland's Benson Tech. An all-around athlete and agile big man, Washington was a three-time all-state and first-team all-tournament selection and led Benson to state championships in 1971 and 1973. Benson was a combined 77–6 those three seasons.[1] Washington was also a hurdler in track and, as a defensive end-receiver, was MVP on the Techmen football team his junior year (the last year he played football).[2]
College career
Washington was highly recruited out of high school and seriously considered the University of Hawaii, but he decided to play college basketball for perennial national champion UCLA and legendary coach John Wooden.[2][3] He played three seasons at UCLA, with the Bruins going 26–4, 28–3 and 28–4. They won three Pac-8 championships and advanced three Final Fours.[2]
In Washington's sophomore season of 1974–75, the Bruins captured the NCAA title. The Bruins went 28–3 and, powered by the front line of future NBA players Washington, Dave Meyers and Marques Johnson, and defeated Kentucky 92–85 in the title game, which would also be coach Wooden's final game. Washington was named NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player following UCLA's 1975 championship.[2]
He earned first-team All-American honors as a junior in 1975–76.[4]
Washington and his wife, Leiko, reside in Milwaukie, Oregon. They have raised two daughters. Interested in building and construction since his youth, in 1993 he founded Richard Washington Construction, a general contracting company.[2][5]
In 1988, Washington was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
