For Richard M. Bosco, the annual art gala was more than just a night of celebration—it was a homecoming. Bosco, a 1975 Greater Latrobe High School graduate, was this year’s honoree at the prestigious event. His journey has taken him far and wide, from serving in the U.S. Marines to working as a special agent for the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office. Yet, through it all, Latrobe remained his home.
In a sincere speech, Bosco reflected on the profound influence his community has had on his life. “I find that coming home has been the greatest privilege of my life,” he said. “We live our lives in evolution. When we were young, we wanted to see the world, and I did. Through my travels, a funny thing started happening, it brought me back to the halls of this school where I graduated and to the artwork.”
Bosco’s career has been a testament to service, both to his country and his community. After five years as a local patrolman, he spent over two decades as a special agent before returning to Latrobe to serve as chief of police in Lincoln Borough. For him, coming home was an opportunity to give back. “It was my time to pay it forward to my community for all the wonderful opportunities it has given me,” Bosco shared.
Throughout his speech, Bosco emphasized the unique character of Latrobe, a town defined by its kindness and compassion. “There is a comfort in coming home,” he said. “There is a kindness here that doesn’t exist everywhere in the world.”
Bosco also highlighted the importance of the school’s art collection, which has long been a source of pride for the Greater Latrobe community. He praised the emotional depth and storytelling embedded in each piece. “Every piece is living and breathing from the soul and mind of the creator,” he remarked. “Our lives, much like art, are a balance of light and dark, a balance of trial and tribulation and success and failure. I contribute the wealth of my strength and knowledge a lot to the artwork that hangs on the walls in this prestigious school.”
For Bosco, art is a journey that invites the viewers to see the world through the artist’s eyes. One particular piece of art in the collection continues to captivate him. Describing his favorite painting, he said, “If you look deep into his eyes the reflection he sees back on himself I just wonder, hasn’t he touched that brush to the canvas yet? Is he studying by himself? Is he contemplating the moments in his life or what he has done? Every time I look at it, I get a different rush of emotion. What was the artist thinking when they painted it? What is the artist trying to tell us?”
In an interview, Bosco reflected on his upbringing in Latrobe’s Lower 5th Ward and how it shaped his character. “There is this stigma in Latrobe about what side of the tracks you grew up on,” he said. “It was a different time, but it taught me how important it is to stay humble, no matter how far you go in life.”
Bosco’s words resonated deeply with those in attendance as the gala ended. His journey, shaped by service, humility, and an art appreciation, stood as a testament to the values of Latrobe, a community that nurtures its own and finds strength in kindness.
For Bosco, being honored at the gala was not just a recognition of his achievements but a celebration of the town that made him who he is. “Kindness is our strength,” he said. “Our muscles mean nothing compared to our compassion and empathy.”
