Rick Alan Richards of Michigan City, IN, died at 2:39 p.m. Saturday, July 20, 2013, at Porter Regional Hospital, Valparaiso, IN.
A resident of Michigan City for 34 years, Rick was born Aug. 8, 1953, in Muncie, IN, to Ronnie and Charlotte (Baker) Richards.
Rick graduated from Cambridge City (IN) Lincoln High School in 1971 and from Ball State University, Muncie, in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and history. From 1975 to 1979, Rick was an editor and reporter for his parents’ weekly newspaper, National Road Traveler, in Cambridge City. While at the National Road Traveler, his reporting garnered two National Newspaper Association Blue Ribbon awards. Wanting to work his craft at a daily newspaper, in 1979, Rick was hired at The News-Dispatch, Michigan City, first as editor of the Michiana Farmers Journal publication, then as a court reporter and business reporter for the N-D. In 1986, Rick joined the writing staff at the Post-Tribune, Merrillville, IN. Then he returned to The News-Dispatch in 2002 and stayed there until 2008. In January 2009, Rick joined Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly as a contributing business editor and continued there until his death. In March 2013, Rick joined the staff of Lakeshore Public Television, Merrillville, as the news assignment editor. Rick also owned a freelance writing business called Your Writing Solutions. He was also a frequent contributor to The Beacher, Farm World, Farmers Exchange, Reminisce, and Retirement Living. Throughout his career, Rick received many writing and editing awards, most notably the Peter Lisagor Award in 1998 for columns/commentary presented by The Headline Club, Chicago Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was a finalist for this award twice. In 1988, the National Association of Agricultural Journalists presented Rick with the Farm Editor of the Year Award for a yearlong series on the life of a LaPorte County farm in Westville, IN. In 1984, United Press International of Indiana honored Rick’s writing abilities by presenting him with the Hortense Myers Award for investigative reporting for a series on electric utility rates.
Rick’s community involvement included serving as a volunteer for the Men’s Interfaith Homeless Shelter, pastoral council member at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Scholarship Committee member of Unity Foundation of LaPorte County, member of the Indiana Department of Correction LaPorte County Community Advisory Board, member of marketing and publicity of The Home Team in Michigan City, member of the Michigan City High School Marching Band Boosters, and volunteer for Angela House Prayer and Retreat Center.
Rick was a diehard auto racing fan. He loved attending Trans-Am, SCCA, IRL, Formula One and Indy Car auto races, and especially NASCAR. Rick worked for Marlboro Racing for two years in the 1980s, writing media releases for the Indy Car racing team of Emerson Fittipaldi. He was an avid fan of Ball State and Notre Dame sports teams, followed the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, and loved the Bears and Blackhawks. He always seemed to carry a camera with him and took photos of all of his family’s events.
On Aug. 13, 1977, in South Bend, IN, he married Mary Ann Chelminiak, who survives.
Also surviving are two children, Erika Richards of Evansville, IN, and Meredith Richards of Michigan City; one brother, Rodney A. (Lisa) Richards of Richmond, IN; and one sister, Rhonda (Patrick) Horan of Greenwood, IN.
His mother preceded him in death.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, July 26, at 10 a.m. at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, Michigan City, with Revs. Walter J. Rakoczy and Kevin Huber officiating. Cremation will follow. Viewing will be held Thursday, July 25, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Root Funeral Home, Michigan City, and Friday from 9:15 to 10 a.m. at the church.
Honoring his last wishes, his family donated his organs so that, even in death, Rick may continue to touch others’ lives.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, 411 West 11th St., Michigan City, IN 46360; or Unity Foundation of LaPorte County-Homeward Bound Walk Fund, 115 East 4th St., Michigan City, IN 46360.
The family expresses its gratitude to nurses, doctors and staff of the emergency department of Porter Regional Hospital, the Platinum Gymnastics family, and family, friends and neighbors.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.therootfuneralhome.com.