Charles E. Richardson
Encyclopedia
Charles E. Richardson was a publisher of the Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner
in Rock Springs
, Wyoming
. He worked in his family newspaper
business throughout his youth before attending the University of Wyoming
at Laramie
and entering the United States Army
. In 1960, he was appointed general manager of the Daily Rocket-Miner; fourteen years later, he was elevated to publisher and president of the newspaper board of directors. Richardson retired as publisher in 2000 but continued as the corporate president until his death.
Richardson was born in Newcastle
in Weston County in northeastern Wyoming to David G. Richardson (1902-1974) and the former Margaret Edwards (1904-1997). In 1937, the senior Richardson purchased the Rocket newspaper and moved his family to Rock Springs in southwestern Wyoming. Charles Richardson resided in Rock Springs until 2005, when he moved to Cheyenne
but spent winters at another home in Scottsdale
, Arizona
.
As a youth, Richardson worked on the ground floor of the family newspaper business. An athlete, he was named to the first ever Wyoming All-State football
team. In 1952, he graduated from Rock Springs High School
and then studied accounting at the University of Wyoming, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma
social fraternity
. After graduation from UW in 1956, Richardson was commissioned a second lieutenant
in the United States Army
, where he served at, among other locations, Fort Benjamin Harrison
in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel
and received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit
, the Meritorious Service Medal, a Marksman Medal for mastery of the M-1 rifle, Carbine and .45 caliber pistol
, and the Sharpshooter Medal for his skill with a .38 caliber pistol.
Upon his father’s death in 1974, he was named Daily Rocket-Miner publisher and president of the newspaper board of directors. He received the "Heinsohn Award for Excellence in Newspapering." After he retired as publisher, Richardson remained corporation president until his death. During his tenure at the newspaper, he was also a civic leader who supported establishment of a new Sweetwater County hospital and the expansion of Western Wyoming Community College
. The newspaper adapted modern technology under Richardson’s tenure, and in 1974 newspaper offices were expanded to a second floor at the newspaper location at 215 D Street. From 1970-1974, he also owned and managed radio
station KVRS in Rock Springs.
Richardson served on the board of the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Sweetwater County. He was president of the Wyoming Broadcasting Company for three decades and served on the board of another newspaper, the Laramie Boomerang
in Laramie. He was a board member and past president of the Wyoming Press Association. The group made him a lifetime member in 1999. He was a director of the former First Security Bank in Rock Springs. He was appointed by Democratic
Governor Michael J. Sullivan to a seat on the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance Commission. He also served on the Wyoming Employment Security Commission and was active in the UW Cowboy Joe Booster Club, the UW Aumni Association, the Masonic lodge
and its companion organization, the Shriners
.
Richardson died in a hospice
in Cheyenne. On November 16, 1974, he wed his second wife, the former Faye Spires Fries. He was further survived by two sons, Dr. Charles Alan Richardson (born ca. 1959) of Chandler
, Arizona, and James H. Richardson (born 1964) and wife, Kimberly, of Rock Springs; three daughters, Elaine A. Willis and husband, Jon Willis of Mt. Juliet near Nashville
, Tennessee
, Shannon Fermelia and husband, Dr. Rick Fermelia, of Cheyenne, and Carla Howard and husband, Dr. Rick Howard, of Gilbert
, Arizona; one sister, Patricia R. Guthrie of Laramie, and twelve grandchildren.
Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner
The Rock Springs Rocket-Miner is the daily newspaper of Rock Springs and Sweetwater County in southwestern Wyoming. Published Tuesday-Saturday, the newspaper had previous names until 1965, when it adapted the current Daily Rocket-Miner.The paper expanded to a two-story building in 1974. It is...
in Rock Springs
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 18,708 at the 2000 census. Rock Springs is the principal city of the Rock Springs micropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 37,975....
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. He worked in his family newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
business throughout his youth before attending the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
at Laramie
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
and entering the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. In 1960, he was appointed general manager of the Daily Rocket-Miner; fourteen years later, he was elevated to publisher and president of the newspaper board of directors. Richardson retired as publisher in 2000 but continued as the corporate president until his death.
Richardson was born in Newcastle
Newcastle, Wyoming
Newcastle is a city in and the county seat of Weston County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 3,065 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Newcastle is located at...
in Weston County in northeastern Wyoming to David G. Richardson (1902-1974) and the former Margaret Edwards (1904-1997). In 1937, the senior Richardson purchased the Rocket newspaper and moved his family to Rock Springs in southwestern Wyoming. Charles Richardson resided in Rock Springs until 2005, when he moved to Cheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
but spent winters at another home in Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
As a youth, Richardson worked on the ground floor of the family newspaper business. An athlete, he was named to the first ever Wyoming All-State football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team. In 1952, he graduated from Rock Springs High School
Rock Springs High School
Rock Springs High School is a high school campus located in Rock Springs, Wyoming.-Campus:The Rock Springs High School campus is situated at Latitude: 41.591183 Longitude: -109.20701 within the City of Rock Springs, Wyoming...
and then studied accounting at the University of Wyoming, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
social fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
. After graduation from UW in 1956, Richardson was commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, where he served at, among other locations, Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. It is named for the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post being officially named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the Meritorious Service Medal, a Marksman Medal for mastery of the M-1 rifle, Carbine and .45 caliber pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
, and the Sharpshooter Medal for his skill with a .38 caliber pistol.
Upon his father’s death in 1974, he was named Daily Rocket-Miner publisher and president of the newspaper board of directors. He received the "Heinsohn Award for Excellence in Newspapering." After he retired as publisher, Richardson remained corporation president until his death. During his tenure at the newspaper, he was also a civic leader who supported establishment of a new Sweetwater County hospital and the expansion of Western Wyoming Community College
Western Wyoming Community College
Western Wyoming Community College is a two year college located in Rock Springs, Wyoming. WWCC offers various one year certificates, numerous two year associate degrees, and some four year degrees in cooperation with the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming...
. The newspaper adapted modern technology under Richardson’s tenure, and in 1974 newspaper offices were expanded to a second floor at the newspaper location at 215 D Street. From 1970-1974, he also owned and managed radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station KVRS in Rock Springs.
Richardson served on the board of the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Sweetwater County. He was president of the Wyoming Broadcasting Company for three decades and served on the board of another newspaper, the Laramie Boomerang
Laramie Boomerang
The Laramie Boomerang is the only daily newspaper in Laramie, Wyoming. It was established in 1881 by Edgar Wilson Nye, who named the paper after his mule, Boomerang...
in Laramie. He was a board member and past president of the Wyoming Press Association. The group made him a lifetime member in 1999. He was a director of the former First Security Bank in Rock Springs. He was appointed by Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Governor Michael J. Sullivan to a seat on the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance Commission. He also served on the Wyoming Employment Security Commission and was active in the UW Cowboy Joe Booster Club, the UW Aumni Association, the Masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and its companion organization, the Shriners
Shriners
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...
.
Richardson died in a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
in Cheyenne. On November 16, 1974, he wed his second wife, the former Faye Spires Fries. He was further survived by two sons, Dr. Charles Alan Richardson (born ca. 1959) of Chandler
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
, Arizona, and James H. Richardson (born 1964) and wife, Kimberly, of Rock Springs; three daughters, Elaine A. Willis and husband, Jon Willis of Mt. Juliet near Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Shannon Fermelia and husband, Dr. Rick Fermelia, of Cheyenne, and Carla Howard and husband, Dr. Rick Howard, of Gilbert
Gilbert, Arizona
-Demographics:As of July 1, 2009, Maricopa Association of Governments, Census 2000. United States Census Bureau. there were 217,521 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household....
, Arizona; one sister, Patricia R. Guthrie of Laramie, and twelve grandchildren.