Edmond Champions of Character

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Edmond's most recent Champion of Character, Robert Launhardt, received recognition for demonstrating the character trait of forgiveness. The presentation took place at Vault405 on Monday, June 2, 2025. Bob’s wife Karla attended the small ceremony along with Character Council board members, President Jim Hulsey, VP Diane Krakowski and Gloria Baumann.

Bob and his wife, Karla, moved to Edmond 20 years ago. They raised two daughters. Their oldest daughter, Kalli, received a degree in hospitality and tourism management. Their youngest daughter, Lauren graduated this year with a Biochemistry Degree from the University of Arkansas. Bob worked for Halliburton and retired from the oil and gas industry last fall. He is currently involved with two non-profits, Turning Point Ministries and the Christmas Connection.

In the opening of her nomination, Bob's friend, Julie McDonough said, “Bob exemplifies the character trait of forgiveness in the most profound way.”  Bob's first wife, Laura, was kidnapped and murdered Labor Day, 1991 in Tulsa, OK, where they lived. He was bitter and harbored animosity against Lonnie Richie, the man convicted of her murder.

Both Bob and Laura's mother attended the trial together. Bob said, “I wasn't walking with Jesus at the time of her death and had nothing to help me deal with my emotions. I was very selfish. I just wanted vengeance and didn't care who I harmed or how I acted.”

Bob worked for Halliburton at the time of Laura's death. He moved from Tulsa to Houston. In 1998 he met a lady who took him to church. She also saw a deeper spiritual need and encouraged him to attend a weekend retreat.  During the first night of the pilgrimage Bob went completely still when he heard the speaker say, “My cousin was kidnapped and murdered.” Bob said, “This was a pastor with vengeance in her heart.” Then she recounted what God said to her, “I've forgiven you for everything and you're not going to forgive him?”

Her testimony led Bob to make the decision to forgive Richie. Bob said, “At that moment the weight of hate and vengeance lifted so much that I felt like I was floating above the crowd. It was weird.”  The experience transformed him. He and Karla met and married. Their family grew to four after the births of Kalli and Lauren.

Later, Bob met a man who heard his story of forgiveness from a mutual friend. He said to Bob, “I'm glad you did that. What's the guy’s name?” When Bob told him, the man said, “I've been doing Bible study with Lonnie Richie at his cell door for a year. Does he know you forgave him?”

Even though Bob wanted to find a way to let Richie know, he wasn't ready to go to the prison.

A couple of years passed, and Bob received a call from the DA. Due to the judge's flawed instructions to the jury that convicted Richie, they sought to proceed with a new trial. This created an issue because Bob's daughters didn't know about Laura. Recognizing that it was likely they would hear about it in news reports, he sat down with them and told them what had happened.

It turned out that Bob was the only person who could take the stand. So, in lieu of a new trial, they allowed a commutation of Richie's death sentence to life. Bob wrote a letter to Richie and expressed that he had forgiven him. He shared the gospel message and told him, “Jesus loves you.”  He never heard back from Richie.

Bob said, “Forgiving may or may not do anything for the perpetrator. However, it frees the person forgiving to be able to live his life. I would not have been able to live my life now the way I would've lived it. I wouldn't have my kids. Karla wouldn't have married me, making me into the human being God made me to be.”

Julie said, “Forgiveness relieved Bob and allowed him to have conclusion and get his life back. It has set Bob free of anger and vengeance, and he is now working with non-profits for the betterment of our community.”

On behalf of the City of Edmond and the Character Council of Edmond, Bob Launhardt was honored as a Champion of Character for exemplifying the character trait of forgiveness defined by Character First as “releasing feelings of resentment.”

The Character Council is a grassroots, nonprofit organization committed to creating a citywide initiative to build Edmond into a "Community of Character." 

Pictured: Bob and Karla Launhardt 

Please complete the form located on our website to recognize an EDMOND citizen for a specific character trait. Forms may be submitted from the website or mailed to the 

Character Council of Edmond 

Champions of Character

PO Box 392 

Edmond, OK 73083-0392.

or contact: Gloria Baumann (405) 317-9089    Gloria_Baumann@outlook.com  

Champions of Character Honorees

2014 to Present:

• Dena Jones Diligence January, 2025
• Tyler Shaw Trustworthiness December, 2024
• Jennifer Thornton Thoroughness October, 2024
• Linda de la Garza Loyalty August, 2024
• Amanda Jenson Positivity February, 2024
• Perry Sneed Dependability November, 2023
• Irene Liang   Punctuality October, 2023
• Jeff Morefield Courage July, 2023
• Shaun Pryor Flexibility June 2023
• Diana Pate Generosity April, 2023
• Jim Hulsey Enthusiasm March, 2023
• Carol Anderson Orderliness September, 2022
• Susan Isaacs Patience June, 2022
• Stephanie Carel Creativity April, 2022
• Salvador Garcia Trustworthiness March, 2022
• Beth Conner Diligence March, 2022
• Darrell Davis Respect January, 2022
• Judy Pike Thoroughness December, 2021
• Gary Wallace Loyalty September, 2021
• Sondra Reid Availability August, 2021
• Becky Crow Honesty March 2021
• Justin Rowley Positivity February, 2021
• Laura Liles Resilience December, 2020
• Pete Reeser  Courage December, 2020
• Amy Stephens Dependability  December, 2020
• Michelle Schaefer Discipline June, 2020
• Dick Opalka Generosity February, 2019
• Yara Ford  Attentiveness  March, 2019
• Chrislyn Sperry  Respect   January, 2019
• Kathryn Olds Persuasiveness  November, 2018
• Jill Castilla  Creativity  September, 2018
• Maureen Coury Compassion  January, 2018
• KC Williams Dependability October, 2017
• David Ford  Humility  July, 2017
• Steve Bowlware Enthusiasm, March, 2017
• Laura McGee Truthfulness, April,  2017  
• Richard Killgore  Generosity  February, 2017
• Peggy Geib Gratefulness  January, 2017 
• Dustin & Erikka Ault  Initiative  January, 2017
• Chris Waugh  Initiative  January, 2017 
• Nathan Walters  Orderliness  November, 2016 
• Kris Rush  Diligence  March, 2016 
• Jason Henley Compassion  January, 2016 
• Ray Vaughn Dependability  August, 2015 
• Jean Holt  Sensitivity  April, 2015 
• Brian Maughan  Availability  April, 2015 
• Chris Shorow  Joyfulness  October, 2014 
• Virginia Peters  Endurance  September, 2014 
• Bea Sprouse  Discretion  August, 2014 
• Krista Law  Creativity  July, 2014 
• Cora Stamps  Initiative  January, 2014