Richard Lamar Durrett, Jr., age 38, passed away June 17, 2014 in Plano, Texas. He was born October 13, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia. Richard attended Christ the King Elementary School and Marist High School before moving to Montreal, Canada at age 16 with his family. There he graduated from Lower Canada College in 1994.
Pursuing an interest in sports journalism, Richard attended Texas Christian University graduating with a BS in Radio-TV-Film in 1998. During his time at TCU Richard broadcasted play by play for the women's basketball team, co-hosted a sports talk radio show, wrote for the Daily Skiff, and was an enthusiastic member of the TCU Marching Band. It was in the band that he met his future wife, Kelly Neumon.
Richard began his professional career broadcasting play by play for the Idaho Falls Braves, a minor league baseball team. His next move brought him back to Texas broadcasting for the Fort Worth Fire hockey team, writing for the Grapevine Sun, and later moving to the Denton Record-Chronicle. He then accepted a position with The Dallas Morning News where he spent nine years covering local high school sports, motor sports, college sports, professional hockey and golf, and the Rangers.
In 2001 Richard and Kelly were married in Albuquerque, New Mexico and eventually settled in Wylie, Texas. Their son, Owen, was born in 2008 followed by daughter, Alice, in 2010. Richard was active in the choir at Northway Christian Church, enjoyed reading historical non-fiction, and was well-known for his breadth of knowledge. A family man in the truest sense, Richard was a devoted husband and father.
In 2009, Richard joined ESPNDallas.com covering the Texas Rangers and other sports, as well as co-hosting a local sports radio show on ESPN 103.3. A versatile journalist, Richard was a prolific writer, blogger and contributor to ESPN programming.
Richard is survived by his wife, Kelly Durrett; son, Owen Durrett; daughter, Alice Durrett; and a baby on the way due in January; parents, Lamar and Barbara Durrett; brother, Robert Durrett and his wife, Carolyn; two sisters in-law, Katherine Neuman and Rachel Cooley; and numerous other family members.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at texasrangers.com/foundation or through the mail at Richard Durrett Family Fund, Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, 1000 Ballpark Way, Suite 400, Arlington, TX 76011. Donations made through the Rangers Foundation in his memory will be directed to the Richard Durrett Family Fund.