Richard Coghlan, the recently retired Pike County Civil Defense director, died Saturday morning, July 26, 2025 after a sudden illness. He was 71.
A family member said the cause of death may have been heart-related. Coghlan had a stroke last December, but was almost fully recovered with only minor effects. The stroke did not affect his mobility and he had been able to resume driving.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
Coghlan spent his entire career in public service, joining the McComb Fire Department at age 18, right after he graduated from high school. He worked his way up through the department until becoming fire chief in 1988. He left in 1995 to be Civil Defense director, a post he held for 29 years until retiring in March 2024.
Survivors include his wife Rita, five children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
