James Richard Cassin

Dallas, TX- James Richard "Dick" Cassin, 88, formerly of Indianapolis, IN, died

Tuesday, July 5, 2022. An educator and public affairs practitioner, Dick was born Oct.7, 1933 in Port Huron, Ml. He was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd G. Cassin and Gladys C. Smith Cassin-McCarron of Port Huron and brother Kelley L. Martin of Clarkston, Ml. Dick was also preceded in death by his wife of more than 67 years, W. Christine Carr Cassin.

An Air Force veteran of both Korean and Vietnam service, Dick first came to Indianapolis in military uniform in 1966 to be stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison. He came from Japan where he was a radio and TV personality for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. As an instructor at the Defense Information School on Fort Harrison, then-Technical Sergeant Cassin trained military journalists and broadcasters for the worldwide military network.

In 1970, he left Fort Harrison to join the Air Force "Thunderbirds" precision flying team. For two years he served as the team's public affairs representative at air shows in 49 states and nine foreign countries. Retiring from military service in 1972, Dick returned to Indianapolis where he was employed by American Fletcher National Bank as editor of employee publications. In 1974 he left AFNB for a position as publicity director of the Indianapolis-based Amateur Athletic Union, U.S. governing body of amateur sports.

A journalism graduate from Ball State with a master's degree in radio and television from Butler University, Dick returned to teaching in 1976, accepting a civilian faculty position at the Defense Information School. Listed in Who's Who in the Midwest, he remained with the Fort Harrison school as a professor of broadcast journalism and chief of radio skills training, until retirement from federal service in 1995.

With the closing of Fort Harrison, Dick continued teaching in area high schools and colleges, working with broadcast technology students at Warren Central, Marian College, and from

1998-2010 as an adjunct professor of media arts at Butler University. Outside the classroom, he worked for three years in the sports department of the Indianapolis Star.

Dick was an actor in TV commercials and films for the Helen Wells Agency of Carmel, and associated with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He was a lifetime member, of the Air Force "Thunderbirds" alumni association, the Armed Forces Broadcasters Association, and the American Legion Post 495.

Dick is survived by his two children and their families. Son, James R. II (Jane) of Ingalls, IN and daughter Carolyn M (Robb) Krecklow of Dallas, TX. He is also survived by a sister Jeanne

B. Martens of Port Huron, Michigan.

Mr. Cassin's childhood guardian and grandmother, Grace B. Smith of Port Huron, preceded him in death.

He was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Indianapolis. After moving to Dallas in 2018, Dick and his wife were members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Dallas. His service will be at the Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home on 10501 Garland RD, Dallas. He will be buried with his wife in the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.