Richard Fitzpatrick

Posted on: Apr 27, 2019 at 4:34 AM

Posted on: Apr 27, 2017 at 4:34 AM

Posted on: Apr 27, 2016 at 4:33 AM

Posted on: Apr 05, 2016 at 12:05 AM

As it has for the past 40+ years, April 4th again brings back vivid memories of being just a few blocks from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when Dr. King was killed.
I had seen him about a week earlier when we both happened to be having lunch at the same restaurant on the banks of the Mississippi. On the 4th I had just left my job at the Cotton Belt Railroad in the heart of the inner-city, intending to drive my normal route past the Lorraine, past Hotel Peabody, and back to my apartment near Memphis State Univ. A police barricade caused me to take a somewhat different course – not an uncommon occurrence for the neighborhood. However, on the car radio I heard news of what had happened.
As I walked into my apartment, the phone was ringing; a splendid young woman who was a special part of my life at that time, was calling. Her dad was a physician and had been at St Joseph’s performing a surgery when they brought Dr. King in. He had just called her saying that the sniper’s shot had been fatal. She was wanting to make sure I was safely back from the heart of the city where passion and pain was spilling out into the streets.
Not knowing what else to do, I called Tom McHale, a friend/newsman at WBCK, an am radio station in my hometown. He put me on the air live and the local station scooped all the networks with the dismal announcement of the death of MLK.

Posted on: Aug 25, 2015 at 4:10 PM

This photo of Jackie Bevers' band is the one that raised lots of comments and speculation by B.C. trivia followers a few years ago. George Tatum and I ID'd you as the trumpet player. Brian Counts and Carl Chapman insisted it was Doug Hamlin. Please settle our debate.

Posted on: Aug 25, 2015 at 3:57 AM

You?
A few years ago, on a Facebook Battle Creek trivia group page there was a discussion remembering local bands and musicians of the 1960's. I identified this photo as you - but was assured by others it wasn't. Now I can finally know for sure.

Ron, it was fascinating to discover the evolution of you life path and of your involvement with Hospice of Michigan - one of my favorite organizations. Hope you and Nona will be able to come down for some of the reunion activities.

I woke up early this morning and decided to see what was new on the BCCHS site. You'd updated your profile, so I took a look. I didn't know I'd see a Charlton Heston look-alike. And whenever I see a classmate with a homepage, I always visit that. I honestly couldn't quit surfing all around your "What is Richard reading, listening to, visiting, and saying" pages. There's so much great advice there; one could read and surf from your advice and wisdom for days. I will come back and read more later. I'm so glad you'll be at the reunion to share with others; and I'm so glad I woke up early today to read about you.