PETERS, RICHARD DORLAND (29 May 1910-27 Oct. 1984) spent a major part of his journalistic career with the Scripps-Howard organization in his hometown of Cleveland. The son of Dr. Harry A. Peters, longtime headmaster of UNIVERSITY SCHOOL, "Dick" Peters graduated from Yale in 1932 and broke into journalism with the Washington Daily News. He then worked for the Knoxville News-Sentinel before returning home in 1936 to become a reporter, and then drama critic, for the CLEVELAND PRESS. During WORLD WAR II he served as press officer on the staff of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Returning to the Press, Peters served as the paper's chief editorial writer from 1947-57. Scripps-Howard then made him public service director for the entire chain, followed by appointments as editor of the Indianapolis Times in 1960 and the New York World Telegram and Sun in 1962. When the World Telegram was merged in 1966, Peters resigned and helped design the op-ed page of the New York Times in 1967. He returned to Cleveland to join the MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION OF CARL B. STOKES, where he served as executive assistant in charge of the CLEVELAND NOW! program. He resigned in 1970 to teach at University School and in the Living Room Learning Program of CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY. His special interest in the settlement house movement led to the presidencies of the GOODRICH-GANNETT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER and the National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers. A bachelor, Peters provided in his will for a $500,000 bequest to the CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY and a cocktail party for his friends.
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