Richard Lee Boatwright (1928 - Dec. 6, 2008) was a musician, educator, and Mayor of Ypsilanti. Boatwright was born in Ypsilanti in 1928 and raised by neighbor Catherine Sieber after his parents separated. He studied music at Eastern Michigan University, followed by a masters degree in music education.

During World War II, Boatwright ran an Army radio station on Attu Island in the Aleutians. After the war, he taught before becoming an elementary school principal in Dearborn Heights. He married Margaret Boutell in 1950, and the two had four children - Anne Mary Caincross, Phoebe Rang, Jane Cook, Nelson Boatwright,Graham Salcedo(Foster son) , . Richard and Margaret owned and operated Manchester's Iron Horse Antiques for a number of years. Margaret died April 23, 1995, at the age of 67.

In 1970-72, Boatwright served as Mayor of Ypsilanti, where he was characterized as being "outspoken and a conservative on budget matters". He additionally helped establish JYRO Park on Ford Lake while Mayor.

Boatwright moved to Manchester soon after his mayoral term expired, living there until his death in a car crash in December, 2008.

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Always interested in civic and political affairs in Ypsilanti, Richard L. Boatwright was elected Mayor of Ypsilanti in 1970. During his administration, he succeeded in establishing a Charter Revision Committee, completed the North Huron River Drive which was a major project, upgraded the book-keeping operation of the City and the Motor Pool method was adopted for leasing vehichles to the various departments.

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