Rick Alan Richards, an accomplished reporter and editor, died at 2:39 p.m. Saturday, July 20, 2013, at Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso, Ind., at the age of 59.

A resident of Michigan City for 34 years, Richards was born on Aug. 8, 1953 to Ronnie and Charlotte Baker Richards in Muncie. His mother preceded him in death.

On Aug. 13, 1977, in South Bend, he married Mary Ann Chelminiak, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Erika Richards of Evansville and Meredith Richards of Michigan City; one brother, Rodney A. (Lisa) Richards of Richmond; and one sister, Rhonda (Patrick) Horan of Greenwood.

Richards graduated from Cambridge City Lincoln High School in 1971, and attended Ball State University in Muncie, graduating in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and history. From 1975-79, Richards was an editor and reporter for his parent’s weekly newspaper, National Road Traveler, Cambridge City. While there, his reporting garnered two National Newspaper Assoc. Blue Ribbon awards.

Wanting to work his craft at a daily newspaper, in 1979, Richards was hired at The News-Dispatch, Michigan City, first as the editor of the Michiana Farmers Journal, then becoming a court reporter and business reporter for The News-Dispatch. In 1986, Richards joined the writing staff at the Post-Tribune, Merrillville. Then, he returned to The News-Dispatch in 2002 and stayed there until 2008.

In January 2009, Richards joined Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly as a contributing business editor and continued there until his death. In March 2013, Richards joined the staff of Lakeshore Public Television, Merrillville, as the news assignment editor.

Richards also owned a freelance writing business called Your Writing Solutions. He was a frequent contributor to Farm World, The Beacher, Farmer’s Exchange, Reminisce and Retirement Living.

Throughout his career, Richards received many writing and editing awards. Most notably, he earned 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 Assoc. of Agricultural Journalists presented Richards with the Farm Editor of the Year award for a yearlong series on the life of a LaPorte County farm in Westville, Ind.

In 1984, United Press International of Indiana honored Richard’s writing abilities by presenting him the Hortense Myers Award for investigative reporting for a series on electric utility rates.

Richard’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 Corrections LaPorte County Community Advisory Board, member of the marketing and publicity of The Home Team in Michigan City, a member of the Michigan City High School Marching Band Boosters and a volunteer for Angela House Prayer and Retreat Center.

Richards was a diehard auto-racing fan, too. He loved attending Trans-Am, SCCA, IRL, Formula One, Indy Car and, especially, NASCAR races. 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 athletics, 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, as well.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, July 26, at 10 a.m. at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, with the Revs. Walter J. Rakoczy and Kevin Huber officiating. Cremation will follow. Viewing will be Thursday, July 25, from 4-8 p.m. at the Root Funeral Home and on Friday from 9:15-10 a.m. at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Honoring his last wishes, his family donated his organs so that, even in death, Richards may continue to touch others’ lives.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, 411 West 11th Street, Michigan City, IN 46360; or to the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County-Homeward Bound Walk Fund, 115 East 4th Street, Michigan City, IN 46360.

The family expresses their gratitude to nurses, doctors and staff of the emergency department of Porter Regional Hospital, and to the Platinum Gymnastics family as well as family, friends and neighbors.