Charles Apple

Richard Curtis, managing editor for graphics and photo at USA Today — since before the paper’s launch, in fact — announced today he is retiring. His last day on the job will be Dec. 23.

Richard Curtis. Frame grab from a video by Karl Gude.
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An excerpt from Richard’s announcement this afternoon:

I can well remember my first day at USA TODAY in January 1982. It was filled with so much promise and wonderment. Finally, journalists, artists, photographers and designers would get an opportunity to create the newspaper of their dreams. It was a day for which we all had dreamed. Thanks to Neuharth’s vision, the deep pockets of Gannett and the creative talents of many (including many of you now reading this memo), we did just that, having produced a newspaper that smartly defied the critics and continues to serve millions of readers each and every day. Years from now, when we’re sitting on park benches remembering what it was like in the good old days, we’ll remind ourselves that we made this newspaper Number One.  I am confident it will remain so.

So it is with some reluctance but also much anticipation of what the future holds that I announce I’m leaving USAT at the end of December. Retirement is something I’ve contemplated for over a year, and while it has to come at some point, many factors make this the right time.

Sept. 14, 1982: Launch night for USA Today. Richard — in the
center — looks over a color key of the first issue with other
folks. Left to right: Mitch Koppelman, Director of Photography;
John Quinn, Executive Vice President (”He later became editor
of the paper,” Richard says); and Jackie Greene, Assistant
Director of Photography.
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…This has been a journey well worth taking, and the rewards have been immense. You, and this place, have given me fond memories of these 27 years, enough for a lifetime. I can never repay the debt I owe for this experience, so I’ll just say thanks for what you’ve contributed to those memories.

Please know that working with you and leading this department has been the highlight of my career. I shall always look upon our accomplishments with pride and great fondness. It has been a privilege and a distinct honor to have served you and to have served with you.

It’s simply impossible for me to imagine USA Today without Richard. No offense to his ample array of lieutenants, Richard is such huge, huge part of that newspaper.

This is truly the end of an era.

A 1972 graduate of N.C. State University in Raleigh, Richard was previously an AME at the Baltimore News American.

Richard has been a very good friend and career adviser to us, here at the blog. It’s always a thrill to see that Richard has logged in and left a comment or two.

Richard consented to a Q&A with us when USA Today observed its 25th anniversary last year. Find that here. Read a Mario Garcia interview with him here.

Find SND’s tribute to Richard here.

Watch video of Michigan State’s Karl Gude interviewing Richard about the early days of USA Today., infographics at USA Today, illustrations in USA Today, the famous USA Today weather page and the birth of the Society for News Design.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 6:31 pm and is filed under Getting a life, Graphics, Job changes, News design, Visual Editors, VizEds Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.