Richard Waytt "Dick" Cardwell died Sept. 1, 2020, surrounded by his family members. He was a three-sport varsity athlete at IU and was involved in Sigma Pi, the IU Student Foundation and Union Board. He graduated with a double major in journalism and government and went on to pursue his next degree at IU’s School of Law. He applied his love of journalism by defending the freedom of the press as the general counsel and executive director of the Indiana State Press Association for more than 35 years. He served as chairman of the board of publications of IU and on the committee on public notice advertising for the National Newspaper Association. He was the primary author of the Indiana Open Door Law and Access to Public Records Act, and he represented the newspaper industry on First Amendment causes throughout his career. He was a member of the Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness over several decades. 

Cardwell was awarded “The Sagamore of the Wabash” the highest honor for a citizen of the state in 1980. He was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 1982. 

Richard Cardwell was featured in a profile by Jon Kelley in the Kokomo (Indiana) Tribune. The profile recaps Cardwell’s golf career, from his experience caddying at the Kokomo Country Club in high school to rating premier courses for Golf Digest.

Beyond his many awards and leadership positions, Cardwell also wrote poetry, love letters and notes to friends and loved ones. He is preceded in death by his wife and survived by his brother, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.