Norman L. Richardson
Encyclopedia
Norman Lee Richardson was an award-winning journalist
in Louisiana
and Texas
who was best known for his vivid coverage of hurricanes during the 1960s. His reporting garnered recognition from the Associated Press
, including the Frank C. Allen Award in 1969 and the AP Managing Editor's Association Award in 1965.
Richardson's wife, the former Alice Coleman (born 1936), noted that during hurricane warnings "Everybody else in the world was heading north, and he would grab (photographers) Lloyd Stilley or Langston McEachern and head south. He could hardly wait for hurricane season to start." McEachern recalled having gone with Richardson to report directly on seven hurricanes when storm-tossed cities were under martial law
.
Richardson was a native of Ruston
, the seat of Lincoln Parish. He graduated from Ruston High School
and Louisiana Tech University
, from which he procured his Bachelor of Science
degree in journalism in 1971. Tech journalism was headed by Richardson's friend Wiley W. Hilburn
, who remains chairman of the department.
He joined the staff of The Shreveport Times, where he was the state editor from 1957-1974. In that capacity, Richardson coordinated regional coverage of north Louisiana, east Texas, and southern Arkansas
events. At one point be became interested in the legendary "Fouke Monster
" of Fouke
in Miller County in southwestern Arkansas, a variation of Bigfoot
. Former Times managing editor Allan Matthew Lazarus described Richardson as "a hard-working, conscientious editor."
After leaving The Times, Richardson became the executive editor of the Temple Daily Telegram
in Temple
, Texas
, a publication of Frank W. Mayborn
. He worked in Temple from 1974-1979.
In later years, Richardson had serious health problems. Late in 1993, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy
, an incurable disease that attacks the heart
muscle. In 1995, Richardson spent 123 days in the hospital
awaiting a heart transplant. He died at the age of sixty-four of renal failure at Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport.
In addition to Mrs. Richardson, a retired educator, Richardson was survived by his daughter and three grandchildren, two of whom were born after Richardson's heart transplant.
Richardson was cremated
.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
who was best known for his vivid coverage of hurricanes during the 1960s. His reporting garnered recognition from the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, including the Frank C. Allen Award in 1969 and the AP Managing Editor's Association Award in 1965.
Richardson's wife, the former Alice Coleman (born 1936), noted that during hurricane warnings "Everybody else in the world was heading north, and he would grab (photographers) Lloyd Stilley or Langston McEachern and head south. He could hardly wait for hurricane season to start." McEachern recalled having gone with Richardson to report directly on seven hurricanes when storm-tossed cities were under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
.
Richardson was a native of Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
, the seat of Lincoln Parish. He graduated from Ruston High School
Ruston High School
Ruston High School is a 4 year public high school located in the Lincoln Parish School District of Ruston, Louisiana, United States. The school has an enrollment of approximately 1200 students with 85 faculty members; the mascot is the bearcat. The school colors are red and white. Black students...
and Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
, from which he procured his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in journalism in 1971. Tech journalism was headed by Richardson's friend Wiley W. Hilburn
Wiley W. Hilburn
Wiley Wilson Hilburn, Jr. , is a prominent journalist in Ruston, Louisiana, whose communications career began in the late 1950s when he was a student at Louisiana Tech University. In 1968, at the age of thirty, Hilburn returned to his alma mater to chair the Journalism Department and serve as...
, who remains chairman of the department.
He joined the staff of The Shreveport Times, where he was the state editor from 1957-1974. In that capacity, Richardson coordinated regional coverage of north Louisiana, east Texas, and southern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
events. At one point be became interested in the legendary "Fouke Monster
Fouke Monster
The Fouke Monster, also known as the Southern Sasquatch, is a legendary cryptid reported near the town of Fouke in Miller County, Arkansas during the early 1970s, where it was accused of attacking a local family. Initial sightings of the creature were concentrated in the Jonesville/Boggy Creek...
" of Fouke
Fouke, Arkansas
Fouke is a town in Miller County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in Miller County in southwestern Arkansas, a variation of Bigfoot
Bigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
. Former Times managing editor Allan Matthew Lazarus described Richardson as "a hard-working, conscientious editor."
After leaving The Times, Richardson became the executive editor of the Temple Daily Telegram
Temple Daily Telegram
The Temple Daily Telegram is the daily newspaper of Temple, Texas, serving Central Texas since 1907. The Telegram is locally owned and operated by Frank Mayborn Enterprises, under editor and publisher Anyse Sue Mayborn, the widow of Frank Mayborn....
in Temple
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, a publication of Frank W. Mayborn
Frank W. Mayborn
Frank Willis Mayborn was a 20th century Texas newspaper publisher and philanthropist who played a crucial role in the development of Temple and Bell County, located north of the state capital of Austin....
. He worked in Temple from 1974-1979.
In later years, Richardson had serious health problems. Late in 1993, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease," is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium for any reason. People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death or both. Cardiomyopathy can often go undetected, making it especially dangerous to...
, an incurable disease that attacks the heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
muscle. In 1995, Richardson spent 123 days in the hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
awaiting a heart transplant. He died at the age of sixty-four of renal failure at Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport.
In addition to Mrs. Richardson, a retired educator, Richardson was survived by his daughter and three grandchildren, two of whom were born after Richardson's heart transplant.
Richardson was cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
.