Richard "Rick" Walter Vieth, Esq.

Richard "Rick" Vieth, Esq. passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Born in 1947 Rick was the son of the late Walter and Evelyn Vieth who met in an orphanage in New Jersey in 1930. Walter was sent to Camp Croft in World War II, and Rick was born and raised in Spartanburg.

Rick graduated from Spartanburg High School, Methodist College in Fayetteville N.C. and U.S.C. Law School. He was always involved in sports and loved playing baseball at Spartan High and became interested in golf - a sport that he never left. In addition to sports, he became a professional drummer and played with several bands and loved the "big band sound".

After Rick's first year of law school, he was drafted and decided to go into the Navy for four years of active duty. He was very fortunate to be selected after Boot Camp to serve as the first enlisted Navy on Ombudsman to work with Chief of Naval Personnel, Admiral Zumwalt in the Pentagon and Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. While there, he was able to attend night law school classes at Washington College of Law at American University to complete his second year of law school before returning to U.S.C. for his last year in 1975. He was selected to model the new enlisted Navy Uniform and was honored to be on recruiting posters worldwide for the Navy

Rick's legal career included seven years as Assistant Solicitor in Spartanburg. In 1984, he became a partner with a law firm that became Henderson, Brandt and Vieth. He was basically a trial attorney and enjoyed helping people in many ways. He believed Henderson, Brandt and Vieth had one of the most loyal support staff - with some being there over 30 years. During his legal career, Rick was recognized numerous times as Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and other honors. He was a founding member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. For several years of his career, he was a Certified Federal and State Mediator, mediating over 400 cases and enjoying when parties could settle disputes. Rick was honored with the Claude Taylor Distinguished Service Award by the Spartanburg County Bar on Law Day in 2023. Rick taught evening law classes at Rutledge College. He was a member of the Spartanburg Executive Sertoma Club, where he was awarded the Service to Mankind Club Award, and the American Legion.

Naturally, many knew Rick for his love of the game of golf and U.S.C. He was dedicated to golf as a player and supporter. He served as President of the South Carolina Golf Association and Chairman of the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation for many years. He received the South Carolina Golf Association Distinguished service award. He served on Boards at Pebble Creek Country Club in the 1980s and was on the first Advisory Board at the Reserve at Lake Keowee in 2001; as well as Chairman of the Reserve Golf Committee in the past. Rick started the South Carolina Junior Four-Ball Tournament in 1995, and it has now been named the Rick Vieth Junior four ball tournament. Quite an honor to Rick.

His relationships through golf included his being invited to play Augusta National with Lou Holtz. Rick had a great friendship with Steve and Jerri Spurrier - playing with many members and guest events at The Reserve at Lake Keowee with Coach Spurrier. Golf was truly a big part of Rick's life. While at the age of 62, he shot a 64 at Pebble Creek. He was known as someone who couldn't hit a bad chip. Sometimes when a player hit a bad chip, they called it “hitting a Vieth”.

Rick was committed to his wife, Gail, for 32 years. He has a stepson, Jeremy Revis (Randi) who was only six years of age when they met; four step grandchildren, Ethan (Vanessa), Pete, Coley, and Lawson; and one step great grandchild, Ellowyn. He enjoyed watching them grow and get involved in golf and other activities.

The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:30 pm Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel. The funeral service will follow at 4:00 pm in the Chapel, conducted by The Rev. Bryan Pigford, with eulogies by Matthew Henderson. Esq. & George “Buck” Brandt, III, Esq. Burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to South Carolina Junior golf foundation, P.O. Box 286, Irmo, SC 29063.

Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel