An executive at American Demolition and Nuclear Decommissioning, John (Rick) Dearholt has died, the head of a Knoxville-based nuclear trade organization confirmed by phone Tuesday morning.
A memorial service for Dearholt, a longtime board member for the Energy, Technology & Environmental Business Association, is set for Friday June 21, said the executive director of the association, Elizabeth Harm.
Dearholt, director of federal programs for New York state-based American DND, apparently died over the weekend, Harm said in a phone conversation with Exchange Monitor. He was believed to be in his 60s, various industry sources said by email. According to social media posts, a memorial service is set for Friday afternoon, June 21, at the Rothchild Catering and Conference Center in Knoxville.
Dearholt’s passing was the subject of several social media posts by nuclear industry officials during the past couple of days. One source said Dearholt apparently suffered a heart attack while on a family trip. This could not be confirmed.
During the early days of the Donald Trump administration, Dearholt’s name was floated as a candidate to head the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years, Dearholt joined the private sector, where he served in various senior management roles for large corporations as well as positions in health and safety jobs, according to his American DND bio.
