Richard era mi primo y fue una gran persona, yo soy de Mexico y tuve la oportunidad de conocerlo y poder convivir con el, ya que en una ocasion el la cual estaba yo en Austin, me quede varios dias en su casa. El fue muy amable conmigo y siento mucho esta perdida familiar Q.E.P.D

Richard era mi Primo, yo soy de Mexico pero tuve la oportinidad de conocerlo y convivir con el, ya que en alguna ocasion me quede en su casa algunos dias, el fue una exelente persona conmigo y muy amable, siento mucho esta gran perdida de mi primo. Era una exelente persona. Q.E.P.D.

Richard was the guy that made the Texan what it was. Night in and night out he stayed well past 2am to make sure everything in the paper was perfect. His dry sense of humor combined with his impeccable attention to detail made me a better staffer and person. He has inspired generations of writers and he will not be easily forgotten. RIP.

so sorry to hear - great memories ..  it was a wonderful time ..  condolences to all..

Some people might not realize how much Richard did for The Texan. He fought hard to make it so every word did not have to be reviewed by him, making it a truly independent student newspaper. 
He was a voice of reason for many a young student journalist. I will never forget how he told me to leave the office one day and get some sleep because "I looked like I was dead."
When I was debating whether or not to take my first job opportunity out of college he told me to never pass up a golden opportunity. 
Even though he is gone now I don't think any of us could ever truly forget Richard and the impact he had on us.

A mentor has passed away, but what he taught lives on within those he instructed. I am glad to have met him before his retirement from TSM and The Daily Texan.

As a design staffer at the Daily Texan who had to stay and help put the paper to bed a few days a week, I got to know Richard while we stood over the light machine and looked for errors at 1am. So many of us from the Texan respect him so much because of the high standards he held us to and the freedom he gave us. I remember hearing him chuckle or yell from his tiny office stacked with old papers at all hours. I appreciate the education and mentorship.

Richard was one of my greatest professional and personal mentors during my years at the University of Texas at Austin. The lessons he taught me as our Adviser at The Daily Texan are priceless. His fight against prior review, even as he was the one who was charged with it, is one of the lasting memories I will have of my time with the Texan. Journalism, along with the countless student-journalists he impacted, lost a great friend with his passing.

To Richard's family, I am so sorry for your loss. I knew him as a student working for The Daily Texan, where he was respected as a mentor and old-school newsman. Those of us who worked with him closely greatly appreciated his guidance in everything from flagging misplaced commas to pointing out when a story just didn't smell right or deserved a closer look. I always enjoyed having him come by so we could grumble and laugh a bit about the long days when I shared an office next to his. He also recommended me for my first two jobs, and did countless other things to help students grow, achieve and get started in their careers. It's sad to think I won't get to run into him in the basement again, but I know he'd have rather been out fishing anyway.

Richard was my Uncle Richard; he wasn't the hugging kind of guy, but a handshake would suffice.  Maybe back when I was younger, but I don't remember.  The latest stories that I can remember were he loved to FISH!  And I say that with all caps like yes, I'm yelling.  The man loved to fish and would drive down to Texas City with a kayak mounted on his truck, a couple of fishing poles, and those "cooler bags" that you see at Wally Mart!  He would fish all day and sometimes catch something; sometimes nothing.  But he enjoyed life.  When I had him come down and stay with me for several days there are things that were left in remembrance of him...my garage door still sits broken (LOL!) as he kept hitting the garage door opener, after he locked it one night coming in from fishing.  I laugh now, but you know I never have repaired it.  Upon reading all the stories and student life of ya'll remembering what a great inspirer he was, he still will be, as hopefully you will keep those memories alive remembering those times when he would give you all advice.  Smile when you read an old story that he wrote or maybe think of Richard when he did those funny things...that's the Uncle Richard I remember.

    Richard (and I) were in the tradition  of the old-fashioned newspaper journalists and we shared a common concern for the future fate of the Daily Texan. Richard was honest, worthy of great trust, and was one of my journalism students more than 40 years ago at UT--and one of the few former students who stayed in touch with me--including the last time I met with him in my office last November.  I appreciated that his son Cory called me to inform me with the sad news.  "30"
   Gene Burd,  Professor Emeritus, UT School of Journalism

Many years ago, more than I care to count, Richard came to work for the Hill Country News and I was one of the first folks he selected to write a feature story about, and we became friends. Love of history and Bar-B-Q kept us friends. Before leaving for the Daily Texan, when he would hire a new, raw reporter, he would send them to me for a story, so I could take them around Travis or Williamson County to learn history and get good photos. I am afraid honest editors like Richard are getting hard to find. My condolences to the entire family.

Richard and The Daily Texan were my journalism education, and it was a good one. He was a great mentor to me (in his own cantankerous way) and encouraged me to take on larger roles at the Texan even when I was unsure of myself, helped me get my first journalism job and then supported and commiserated with me when that job turned out to be way harder than I ever expected thanks to industry downturns. I've often thought of Richard -- his lessons, his advice, and his great mustache -- over the years, and I know myself and a lot of people who worked at the Texan will never forget him.

Condolences to my former sister-in-law and dear friend, Carmen Shinn.
Carmen, your actions showed your great love for Richard and I know it meant a lot to him.  You and Cory are in my thoughts and prayers.
Nancy Shinn

I'll miss Richard. He made me, and many people I know, better journalists and was a real friend of the Texan. My thoughts are with his family through this time.

Richard was a great mentor and friend to all Daily Texans. He would pop into the news editor office once or twice a week and provide bits of advice. He was very hands off but his wisdom was always appreciated. But mostly I will miss his BBQ expertise. He gave me the best advice on which restaurants to go to, even taking me to one lesser known joint.

Condolences to my sister-in-law, Carmen Finnell Shinn.  Carmen stood by her brother, Richard, through thick and thin.  She and Richard's son, Cory, are the last of the Finnell family lineage.  May God comfort them in their loss.
Patsy Shinn

Richard was one of those old school types whose knowledge and advice was a bottomless well, making an impact on the lives of so many of us that passed through that basement. Cheers to his life, and that mustache. You will be missed and remembered by many!

My sympathies to Richard's family. Richard was an essential fixture at The Daily Texan, where he helped shape the lives of a multitude of student journalists just learning their craft. We worked together on some projects for CMA and AEJMC over the years, and you always count on Richard holding up his end of the deal. He was living proof you could keep the pace of a different drummer and still take care of the business at hand, in his case that of producing well-rounded, well-reported news coverage. He was a newspaperman in the best and broadest sense of the word.

Richard was a good friend to a student journalist. He encouraged me to be brave, use good judgment, and sometimes to just laugh at the opposition. I still highlight edits, the exact way Richard taught me. I'll miss him.

Richard was my boss for 10 great years in the 80s and 90s. I have a lot of fond memories of him and my tenure at the Hill Country News. My condolences to family and friends.

Richard was one of a handful of people at UT in my time who introduced me to what it really meant to be a journalist in Texas - that mix of cynicism and love for both Texas and the job. He was always supportive, always challenging and always a strong advocate for students and student voices. Late night chats with Richard are one of my dearest Daily Texan memories.

I should have mentioned Richard's dedication to the online critiques at College Media Adviser conferences. His worked over many years in organizing those sessions and conducting a lot of critiques himself touched the lives of literally thousands of college journalists from colleges throughout the country. It was a pretty thankless task that involved hours of preparation and spending much of the conference attending to the needs of the students seeking critiques. I know those students and their advisers were much appreciative.

I'll never forget the note Richard passed me on my first night as a freshman on the copy desk. In 12-point Helvetica, cut to remove the excess paper, he wrote: "If you want to be seen as a competent copy editor, it is wise to occasionally be seen with an AP Stylebook in your hands." I kept that scrap of paper for over a decade, but his words still impact me many years later. Use the tools. Don't overcomplicate things. Think. Challenge. Refine. Think again. What a gift to be taught these lessons at such an early age.

Richard was a quiet force in the Texan newsroom, a straight-shooter who told me what I needed to hear (not what I wanted to hear), and a man I admired as much for his wisdom in life as his wisdom in running the newsroom. I will miss his laugh and the deep satisfaction that came with making him crack.

My deepest condolences to his family and all those he touched. My life, and that of hundreds of others, is unquestionably better because Richard was in it.

The passing of a college media colleague is sad news indeed. I got to know Richard when he advised student journalists at the Daily Texan. Richard Finnell was Curmudgeon Classic. He was an old style, old school news guy who pulled his gray hair into a ponytail and grinned through a Walrus of a mustache. Connecting with him was always a highlight of College Media enclaves. Richard was a journalist and a drummer. Or do I have that backwards? In between all the journalism at our conventions, we'd always try to find places where live music was played. Music provided a necessary counterbalance to all that journalism through the years. Great times. Great memories. Great guy. He served his students well with advice and wisdom. There won't be another like him. I am glad our paths crossed. Peace to friends and family.

Richard was my Daily Texan hero. Learned so much from you and I remember our interactions like they happened yesterday. Rest in peace, Richard.

Richard was an integral part of The Daily Texan and my education when I worked there. I wish his family and friends condolences and many fond memories.

Richard was one of a kind and a crusty old newspaper guy with a heart of gold. His dedication to student journalism was without question, and he gave TSM lots of good years. When my daughter got drums when she was about 15, Richard was right on the spot, giving her quick lessons, CDs of great drum music and lots of ideas. I really appreciated that, and there are journalists all over the country who will be telling Richard stories for a long time. He won't be easily forgotten!

OBITUARY

Richard Allen Finnell

October 12, 1945 – February 22, 2015

Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park

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