Brief Resume

MICHAEL LEWIS RICHARDSON

Journalist, Editor, Author, Leader
Professional Leadership
25-year newspaper career: political columnist, Editor of Editorials, former s
ports editor, news editor at newspapers in St. Petersburg, Fla. and Columbus, In
d. Numerous awards from National Newspaper Association, Hoosier State Press Ass
ociation, Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, Florida Associated Press
Investigation of nursing homes in Florida; testimony in Congressional Record;
testimony before Florida Legislature; before U.S. Senate Committee on Aging rev
ealed inadequate condition and poor inspections..
President, National Conference of Editorial Writers Foundation also, chairma
n of Professional Standards Committee, Chairman of Minority Opportunities Commit
tee, Treasurer of Foundation
Concept, co-Founder and president, Tiger Bay Club (Tampa Bay bi-partisan pol
itical forum organization)
Founder, president, Wells Award, promoting minority jobs in newspapers; recog
nizing top CEOs in national media for progress; built support from National Conf
erence of Editorial Writers, National Association of Black Journalists, National
Broadcast Editorial Association
Founder, Lifeline Letters Unique newspaper campaign to spur reader letters t
o Soviet gulags; aired on Radio Free Europe, picked up Wire services and practic
ed by 25 major U.S. and Canadian daily newspapers.
Three times nominated for Pulitzer Prize
12-year College Executive career: Chaired Resource Development, St. Petersbur
g College (65,000 person served), supervised three foundations, lobbyist in Tall
ahassee and Washington - $90-million in special projects over 12 years (1987-200
0); helped launch three campuses and establish Allstate Center as US & Florida C
ounterdrug Institute; presidential speech-writing, media relations.
Co-Director, Florida-Japan Institute, state agency for Japanese economic and
social ties, 6 years.
Higher education policy adviser in Governor Jeb Bush administration, Tallahas
see, and coordinator of media affairs for states 1-million student community col
lege system.
.PUBLICATIONS:
* 20 years of Columns and editorials, St. Petersburg Times & Evening Independent
* Author, Amazing Faith, Gold-Medallion-winning biography of Dr. Bill Bright
* Author, The Bloody Pearl (documentary of human rights abuses under Idi Amin in
Uganda);
* Editor and co-creator: Ethics Applied 2.0 and 3.0, Simon & Schuster, first col
lege ethics textbook with Internet CD for safe website research; co-writer with
11 national experts; used for postrgraduate leadership studies, University of T
exas at Austin, Community College Leadership Program
* Creator and Editor of pictorial biography of SBC president Dr. Bobby Welch, Fi
rst FAITH.
* Author, Plain Talk Celebrating Wit & Wisdom of the Red States
* Adviser, editor and writer for Bright Media Foundation
* Creator, editor, Editorial Excellence, Volumes I and II - used as supplemental
text American University, University of Maryland School of Communications, et a
l.
RADIO: College news and talk host.
TELEVISION: Executive Producer, East Africa Today; also, Producer-Director, week
ly church services.
Community Leadership
* Director and chairman, Long-range Planning Committee, YMCA of St. Petersburg
* Director and by-laws chairman, Community Youth Association
* Founder, Tampa Bay Future Society
* Co-founder, Pinellas Fair Campaign Practices Committee
* Director, Coach, Manager, All-Star Coach, Baypoint Little League 5 years; Man
ager of the Year
* Active layman: Coordinator, overseas humanitarian missions in partnership with
44 Suncoast churches. Chairman of leadership boards, two search committees, 2,0
00-member churches.
Travel on Assignment: Russia, Japan, Australia, England, France, Germany, Nether
lands, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Finland, Italy, Canada and 46 U.S. states
.
Studies: Mass Communications (Franklin College), newspaper finance (Poynter Inst
itute), Public policy, local, state federal, foreign; One of 30 journalists chos
en for studies on Strategic Arms Limitations Talks; various critiques and semina
rs, National Conference of Editorial Writers, Jewish studies, athletics, music (
piano and choral member)
Personal Honors: Person of Courage Award St. Pete International Society, U.S. Hu
manitarian Award of the American Jewish Committee for The Lifeline Letters Proje
ct helping save lives of the persecuted in Soviet gulags, Angel Award Tampa Bay
Archdiocese, Outstanding Leadership as Youth Camp Director, seven years.
Father of Three: Michele Peek, Greer, S.C.; Dr. Mark L. Richardson, Dallas, Texa
s; Mindy Lynn RIchardson, Nashville, TN;
Contact: 727-424-5252; mrdee060@westpost.
net