RICHARD F. MYERS
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Career Background
            Founded and published the Dover Times and Manchester Times, which were combined in 1989 with the Five Star News to become the Community Courier.  Previously a staff writer for The York Daily Record, York Gazette & Daily, Harrisburg Patriot, Williamsport Sun-Gazette and the Jacksonville Journal-Courier.  First “paid” job as a writer – correspondent at three cents per column inch for Munch Luminary, age 14.  Those still were Depression days and the pay seemed so wonderful that I decided then and there to seek my fortune in this profession.  In due time - now some 50 years in this kind of work – I found the fortune not in salary but in spinning out words that help other people.

Related Experience
            Approximately ten years in public relations.  Fulltime department director in this field for Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and York Hospital, plus several years in private practice with a variety of accounts.  These included fund raising drives for non-profit organizations, some commercial and political endeavor.  In the mid 1960’s  was press secretary to U. S. Representative Neiman Craley.

            Editor and/or publishing shepherd for several historical books, among them facsimile reproductions of the Lewis Miller sketches done for the Historical Society of York County, facsimile reproductions of Huddy & Duval’s U.S. Military Magazine of 1840-41 produced for American History Publications, reprint editions of the Long Lost Friend, and early 1800s collection of Pow Wow practices, plus a number of soft-cover booklets having to do with Pennsylvania folklore and folksongs.  A vocational interest here, past vice president of the Pennsylvania Folklore Society.

Family
            Married to Jean Ann Stevens Myers, who is a retired director of elementary education for West York Area School District.  We have two daughters, one son and two grandsons.

Education
            Lifelong student.  Attended Elmhurst and Illinois Colleges majoring in English and history before and after World War II during which I served some three years in the U.S. Navy, mostly in the Pacific theater. Non-dramatic military career primarily as an aerial photographer for reasons I’ll never understand, the Navy trained me.  After hostilities ended, assigned to a photographic color research team until discharge.  Continuing serious interest.  In time accepted for membership in the American Society for Professional Photographic Scientists and Engineers.  Specialty – use of various radiation bands for non-destructive reproduction needs, most particularly problems having to do with faded and strained historic documents.

Other  Vocational Interests, Hobbies
            Amateur blue water sailor, gardening, aquaculture in ponds on my northern Dover Township farm, plus writing whimsical verse and folksongish lyrics.  Special fondness for tersely written wry humor.  Helps to lighten heavy loads and sometimes makes truth shine more brightly. 

Retirement
            Tried this three times since mid-1980.  Gave up rocking chairs within a few weeks after each attempt.  Happiest when life has a dedicated purpose.

Note
            Richard F. Myers was born in Muncy, Lycoming County, March 21, 1928 he was a son of the late Foster H. & Lillian H. Myers. Died in 1995.