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lect their own recipient. The recipient would receive ry. As President, he asked me to submit my articles to
a plaque from the ICHOF and their picture would be him in advance. He sometimes would tie his article
prominently displayed in the ICHOF museum. Since from the President to the subject of my column. Some
Clown Camp already had their own recognition pro- of the topics for my articles were ones that Richard
gram titled the Red Nose Philosopher, Richard decid- suggested. Also, he would proof read my articles, and
ed that Clown Camp would not select a Clown of the sometimes caught mistakes before they appeared in
Year. In 1991, the WCA named Richard the first Clown print. When he established the position, he placed it
of the Year in recognition of his contributions to the under the supervision of the Immediate Past Presi-
organization, especially as the 1991 convention chair. dent or the President Elect. So, when his Presidential
The ICHOF co-sponsored the award for about five term ended Richard guided my efforts for a second
years. The three clown organizations have continued year in a row.
selecting a Clown of the Year.
Richard's contributions were not limited to his
Richard is the only person to serve as WCA Presi- actions as President. I know that several of the oth-
dent during three separate terms. er WCA Presidents would ask for his ad-
Richard's second term as Presi- vice. Between his terms as President,
dent began in 2002. Ruth Mat- he held other board positions or
teson had created a Junior Joey served as a committee chair.
program for the Midwest Richard was a leader in the
Clown Association in 1997. Caring Clown specialty. He
She was invited to organize wrote the first book on the
a Junior Joey program for topic which gave it legiti-
the 1999 WCA convention macy. He taught classes on
as a one-time event. When caring clowning at Clown
Richard saw Ruth at the Camp and other educa-
2001 WCA convention, he tional programs. He hired
asked her why there wasn't other instructors knowl-
a Junior Joey program. She edgeable about the subject
replied that nobody had asked so clowns could he exposed
her. As President-elect, Richard to them. He provided a lot of in-
recommended that a Junior Joey dividual encouragement to people
Director be added as an appointed posi- who were interested in caring clowning.
tion. He appointed Ruth as the Junior Joey Di- The WCA Caring Clown Advisory Committee
rector beginning with the 2002 WCA convention. That was established in 2008. Richard was appointed to be
position remains, but is now an elected member of the committee's first chair. He served in that position
the board. in 2008-2009. He had to resign when his term as WCA
President began in 2009. He appointed Anita Thies to
Richard began his third term in 2009. Due to his in-
terest in preserving clown history, he created an ap- take his place as the committee chair. Eventually that
pointed position called the World Clown Association position was turned into an elected position on the
Historian. When he asked me to become the first WCA board.
Historian, he told me that learning about the history Richard stressed the importance of Clowning
of the organization was important, but a more vital Around. He believed that was the only membership
part of my role was to educate the members about benefit received by every member. Richard chaired
the history of our art in general. My duties included the Publication Committee in 2011. He created the Au-
writing a Clowning Around column devoted to histo- thor Award to recognize and encourage those
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