Dr. Barrie Richardson

Dr. Barrie Richardson A memorial service for Barrie Richardson will be held Friday, Nov. 20, 2015 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Jordan St., Shreveport, LA. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Chris Currie. Reception will follow at the church. Barrie died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 at his home after a brief illness. Barrie was born April 10, 1934 in Chicago. He earned a B.A. from Carleton College, and an MBA from Indiana University, where he also earned his doctorate degree in marketing, business and government, applied economics, business history and philosophy. He served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corp, Industrial Engineering, before starting a distinguished 43-year career in teaching and administration. Barrie touched the lives of thousands of students as a professor, speaker and writer. He taught at Bethany College, Arizona State University, Indiana University, Hope College and at Centenary College of Louisiana. He was a sought-after motivational speaker and led workshops throughout the country on leadership and teamwork. His unique presentations always included metaphors, parables, and "Magic in the Message." While at Bethany College in the late 1960s, he taught economics and served as one of the youngest ever Dean of Faculty. He brought future Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman and other academic luminaries on campus, in what would be one of the nation's finest speaker series in decades. At Hope College in the 1970s, he chaired the economics department and took students to England for a unique study abroad program. Students still recall a treasure hunt that propelled them through the streets of London, giving them the confidence to explore on their own. In 1983, Barrie came to Centenary College as Dean of the Frost School of Business, in order to re-design the MBA program, where it flourished under his leadership. He was appointed the Samuel Guy Sample Professor of Business Administration, a prestigious endowed chair that allowed him to continue to improve the Centenary program. In his last year of teaching in 2001, he was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award, a testament to his ongoing love of students and passion for economics. After his family, the love of Barrie's life was magic. His first performances were as a youth in the veteran's hospitals in his native Chicago. As a young professor, he began to invent and publish new effects, and after his retirement from teaching, renewed his zest for magic and mentalism. Through the years, he became one of the most creative magicians in the world, developing hundreds of new effects and new twists for others. One of his most memorable events was performing for President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine. For over 10 years, he lectured on magic and mentalism to magicians all over the world. He was a member of the Inner Circle of The Magic Circle in London; The International Brotherhood of Magicians; The Psychic Entertainer's Society; The Sark Secret Magic Society; and The Buenos Aires Magic Society in Argentina. Barrie is the author of three internationally acclaimed books on magic - now considered classics - and has been recognized with top awards for his creativity, sly innovations, and his approach to presentation. Barrie's homemade bread and Krumkake rolled cookies were favorites among his friends. He was a voracious reader and loved traveling to special and unusual destinations. Everywhere he went, he loved meeting people and asking questions about their lives, with a never-abiding curiosity to learn from others. More than anything else, Barrie will be remembered for his generosity of kindness, encouragement and wisdom. As one of his students so beautifully said, "You taught me well, inspired me in so many ways, and your work and memory will live on forever in me and in countless others. More importantly, I would not be the same person without your friendship, your constant example of gentlemanly kindness, your honesty, your integrity and your love." Barrie was predeceased by his parents, Tyrrell and Rose Foreman Richardson; his sister Jessica Richardson Phillips, and her husband John; and his beloved dog, Happy. He is survived by his wife, Janie; his children Craig Richardson and wife Cathy of Winston-Salem, NC; Jan Richert and husband Allen of Ridgeland, MS; Pam Rivers and husband Henry, David Richardson and wife elin, and his first wife, Lucy Richardson all of Chapel Hill, NC; his step-daughter, Millie Hamilton and husband Jeffrey of Boquete, Panama; and his sister, Laurel Richardson and her husband Ernest Lockridge of Worthington, OH. Grandchildren surviving him are Madeleine, Anna, Currin, Guthrie and Harper Richardson; Juliette, Claire, and Allen Richert; and Gray Hamilton. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Carl Goodman, Dr. Dayne Hassell, Dr. David Hoaas, Bill LeMay, Ed Markovich, Stephen Minch, Dr. Chuck Moffet, and Hon. Don Walter. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Moore and the staff at Willis-Knighton; Dr. Stephen Kornblau and his staff at M.D. Anderson; Willis-Knighton Hospice, and his other loving caregivers. The family suggests memorials be made to The Community Foundation, 401 Edwards, Suite 105, Shreveport, LA 71101 or to the charity of the donor's choice.