LTC CHARLES E. RICHARDSON To TAPS

LTC CHARLES E. RICHARDSON passed away 7/20/2009.

Charles E. Richardson, 74, (1934-2009) former publisher of the Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner, died peacefully July 20 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, ending a newspaper career that spanned five decades. Richardson was born Nov. 26, 1934, in Newcastle to David G. and Margaret (Edwards) Richardson. In 1937, Richardson's father purchased the Rock Springs Rocket newspaper and the family moved to Rock Springs. He lived in Rock Springs through 2005, when he moved to Cheyenne and wintered at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Throughout his youth, Richardson worked in the family newspaper business, learning every job from delivering newspapers to casting lead pigs in the old, hot metal presses to editing and writing editorials. Richardson attended schools in Rock Springs. He played varsity football for three years, was a member of the Letterman's Club and was named to the first Wyoming All-State Football team. He graduated from Rock Springs High School with the Class of 1952. He studied accounting at the University of Wyoming. During his years at UW, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma social fraternity, several academic and military honorary fraternities and he was the business manager for the WYO Yearbook committee. He served as an ASUW student senator. Upon graduating from UW in 1956, Richardson began a distinguished military career in the U.S. Army, joining as a second lieutenant. He held several assignments in both active duty and the reserve before being assigned to the U.S. Army Finance and Accounting Center in Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Richardson earned the rank of lieutenant colonel over the course of his military career. During this time, Richardson earned numerous awards and honors: the Legion of Merit; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10-year device; the Army Service Medal; a Marksman Medal for the M-1 Rifle, Carbine and .45 caliber pistol; and the Sharpshooter Medal for his skill using a .38 caliber pistol. He was an owner and managed the radio station KVRS from 1970 until it was sold in 1974. He married Faye Spires Fries on Nov. 16, 1974. They brought five children into the marriage: Alan Richardson, Jim Richardson, Elaine Willis, Shannon Fermeliaand Carla Howard. While the military was his  passion, he returned to Rock Springs in 1960 to work at the family newspaper. He served as general manager of the Daily Rocket-Miner until 1974 when his father, acting editor and publisher, died. Richardson was named publisher and was immediately elected president of the newspaper's board of directors. His dedication to journalism earned him the Heinsohn Award for Excellence in Newspapering. Even though he retired as publisher in 2000, he continued as president of the corporation until his death. During his tenure at the newspaper, he saw the evolution of a small town doubling in size. He was a community leader, editorially supporting infrastructure growth which resulted in bonds that raised money to move the county hospital from its former location on C Street to its current location on College Hill. He actively supported Western Wyoming Community College as it grew to meet the community's needs. The newspaper also evolved under Richardson's leadership, meeting new technology in the 1970s - moving from hot lead to cold type presses. As the newspaper grew to meet community demands, he saw the building through a major construction project that added a second floor in 1974 to the facility located at 215 D St. Richardson was an active member of the city and state that he loved. He served on the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was on the original board of officers when United Way of Sweetwater County was incorporated in February 1976 and served as vice president during its inception. He was president of the Wyoming Broadcasting Company for 30 years and on the Laramie Boomerang Board of Directors. He served on the Wyoming Press Association Board of Directors in 1959 and was a past president and became an honorary lifetime member in 1999. He served as a director for the former First Security Bank in Rock Springs. He was appointed by former Governor Mike Sullivan to serve on the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance Commission. A few of the other committees and organizations he served on during his lifetime include: Wyoming Employment Security Commission, Wyoming Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, University of Wyoming Cowboy Joe Booster Club, and he was a life member of the Wyoming Alumni Association. Throughout his life, Richardson enjoyed snow skiing (he was awarded the Green Merit Star for Life Saving while serving on White Pine Ski Resort's ski patrol), boating on the Flaming Gorge, Wyoming football games, traveling and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great friends. In recent years he enjoyed being a Mason and Shriner.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Faye Richardson of Cheyenne; two sons, Dr. Alan Richardson of Chandler, Ariz., and Jim Richardson and wife, Kimberly Richardson of Rock Springs; three daughters, Elaine Willis and husband, Jon Willis of Mount Juliet, Tenn., Shannon Fermelia and husband, Dr. Rick Fermelia of Cheyenne, and Carla Howard and husband, Dr. Rick Howard of Gilbert, Ariz.; daughter-in-law, Irene Richardson of Green River; one sister, Patricia Guthrie of Laramie; 12 grandchildren, Ryan Richardson and Danielle Richardson of Rock Springs, Michelle Richardson, Sadie Fermelia, and Lex Fermelia of Cheyenne, JD Richardson and Michael Richardson of Green River, Justus Willis and Jordan Willis of Mount Juliet, Nathan Howard, Samuel Howard and Livia Howard of Gilbert; sister-in-law, Lois Mozingo of Fort Pierce, Fla.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Carl and Janice Spires of Young Harris, Ga.; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Mavis Blanton of Farmington, N.M.

Also, see the write-up in Wikipedia.