Richard Drace Provost
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Richard Drace Provost
Richard Drace Provost, 75 of Marion, Arkansas departed this life on Friday, August 7 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro following a brief illness.
He was born December 19, 1944 in Tyronza, Arkansas to W.H. "Dude" Provost and Peggy Drace Provost. His parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 50 years and 7 months, Betty, one daughter, Beth Provost of Dallas, TX, one son, Brett (Kim) Provost of Jonesboro and one grandson, Drace Provost of Jonesboro.
Richard was a 1963 graduate of Marked Tree High School and received his undergraduate degree in journalism from Arkansas State University in 1968. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in West Memphis.
Following a long career that started in education, transitioned into journalism and ended in the insurance industry, Richard met and made many friends over his career. He worked for the Memphis Press Scimitar until it folded in 1983. During that time, he covered sports including the Memphis Blues and Memphis Chicks, agriculture and business. He was proud that he knew MLB Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter on a first name basis and proved it to his doubting son when Carter was in St. Louis with the visiting New York Mets in the mid 1980's. He would be quick to let you know of the many personalities that he had the pleasure of interviewing over the years that included the likes of Denny McLain, MLB's last 30 game winner, and Jerry "The King" Lawler. Richard continued freelancing stories to many publications during his insurance career.
He was a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Duke Blue Devil Basketball and Saturday morning wrestling. During retirement, he and Betty enjoyed matinee games at AutoZone Park in Memphis where he was able to see the next group of Cardinal big leaguers come through. He was a huge fan growing up of Stan "The Man" Musial and according to his lifelong friend, Woody Cummins, Richard would wear you out with Stan The Man statistics all year long.
There will be no funeral services or visitation. The family requests that any memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association at ALZ.org or by mail to 11300 N. Rodney Parham Road, Suite 205A, Little Rock, AR 72212.