By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MOUNT WASHINGTON - E. Paul Reichard, co-founder 78 years ago of the Holt & Reichard construction and design company, died Saturday at Deupree Terrace in Oakley. A resident of Mount Washington for 40 years, he was 100.

Mr. Reichard and his partner, Thomas Holt, who is deceased, were engineering students together at the University of Cincinnati back in the early 1920s.

They started designing and building houses even before they received their degrees in civil engineering in 1926.

When the Depression dampened the demand for new housing, they switched to commercial and industrial building.

They built schools, park facilities and churches, including Armstrong Chapel in Indian Hill.

"He did a number of buildings for the city park board - some of the facility and entrance buildings around Mount Airy Forest and shelter buildings down in Sayler Park," said his son, G. Leslie Reichard of Anderson Township.

Mr. Reichard - whose company is now run by his son and his grandsons Steven Reichard of Anderson Township and Jeffrey Reichard of Norwood - retained the title of president until he died.

"We brought him in the office for a couple of hours a day until about three weeks ago," his son said.

Mr. Reichard was born Dec. 3, 1903, to Edwin Barton and Mary Samantha Earl Reichard in Milton, Pa. He and his nine brothers and sisters helped their parents run a creamery - Reichard's Golden Velvet Ice Cream and Butter Co.

At UC, he participated in the engineering co-op program. In 1923, he joined the Triangle Fraternity - an engineering, architecture and sciences organization. He was president of the fraternity from 1939 to 1941.

Mr. Reichard was a 32nf-degree Mason and member of Norwood-Winton Lodge 576 and the Valley of Cincinnati Scottish Rite. He was also a member of the Mount Washington Presbyterian Church, on whose board he served.

In addition to his son and two grandsons, survivors include his wife of 43 years, Barbara Johnstone Reichard of St. Augustine, Fla.; a stepson, Frederick Johnstone, also of St. Augustine; another grandson, David; four step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave., Mount Washington. The funeral is 10 a.m. Thursday at Mount Washington Presbyterian Church, 6474 Beechmont Ave. Burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorials: Mount Washington Presbyterian Church, 6474 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati 45230; or the Triangle Educational Fund, 120 S. Center St., Plainfield, IN 46168-1214.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com