Original printed byline: Jim L’Ecuyer
Historical September 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Richard Hart, a founder of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council, passed away this spring.
His family has requested that any memorial contributions be made to the Community Council.
The Council has established a special fund to assist beautification and other projects in Hart’s memory.
In the summer issue, the Times was pleased to publish Jim L’Ecuyer’s tribute to the late Richard Hart. Unfortunately, because of production errors, part of Mr. L’Ecuyer’s essay was omitted from the paper.
The missing portion is printed below with heartfelt apologies to Mr. L’Ecuyer and the Hart family from the board members of the Times.
From L’Ecuyer’s “Richard C. Hart: One Man’s Contribution to Urban Living”: By this time in Dick Hart’s life, his friends and neighbors knew him by his integrity, fairness, sharp logic. wit and humor.
It was these attributes of leadership that allowed Dick to move through various community meetings, church functions, neighborhood picnics, men’s volleyball, etc., with his message to organize a full time community effort to combat the decay of our neighborhood.
In this way, Dick Hart quietly forged the alliance of a Community Council. Remember, this alliance asked a Catholic church and two Protestant churches to meet together as equals. (unusual for this period of time) and for two community organizations to give up the bickering over which one was entitled to more city services, and all meet together for the good of the’whole neighborhood. Not only were these diverse groups brought to the table, but a major educational institution was asked to participate equally with the others.
The alliance worked and is still working. So strong was his presence for community action in my mind, that upon learning of his death, which we all knew was eminent, I was overwhelmed by the feeling, of loss beyond the loss of a friend. Dick Hart is gone. What are we going to do now?
The answer, of course, has already been played out. By the end of 1970, the Council had a life of its own. Dick Hart, myself, and all the original board members, with the exception of Bob Blackburn, who represented Washington University, had moved on.
It was a time for new leadership. Dick knew this, and went on with his life. However. he always kept himself aware of community news and direction.
He served for a time as Democratic committeeman for the 28th ward, and continued his law practice.
As a City Attorney he developed a computerized program to track delinquent parking ticket fines, resulting in millions of dollars of previously uncollected revenues for the city. Dick Hart’s final service to his community was as an assistant Circuit Attorney
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_09.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
