Richard Brown’s story begins in a classroom.
Born and raised in Omaha’s Miller Park neighborhood, Richard, a Burnett Society member, was an only child and describes himself as “more than a little shy.” But he found his voice early at North High School, where a journalism teacher introduced him to the discipline of clear thinking and concise writing.
“I was happy with the education I got in the Omaha public school system,” Richard recalled. “Many of my teachers at North were veteran teachers.”
Richard continued his public education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. A lifelong learner, he completed 160 credit hours across secondary education, history, speech and journalism.
“I just saw that as probably a great marketing tool,” he said. “And it was — let me tell you, that was the way to go.”
Teaching and Building Confidence
Richard graduated in 1972 and began his career as a writer and photographer for the Douglas County Post-Gazette’s metro newspaper and as a substitute teacher. He taught at dozens of schools across Omaha and ultimately landed at Millard South, where he taught AP social studies and speech communication for 36 years. He continued to write and was a weekly contributor to the Midlands Business Journal for 45 years, writing about 2,500 articles on Nebraska businesses.
Richard won numerous teaching awards during his career, and his impact was felt in the classroom and on the debate stage. He brought his students to the state speech championships several times, and two of his students won national championships or Student of the Year recognition from the National Speech and Debate Association.
In 2024, Richard published an op-ed in the Omaha World-Herald in support of maintaining speech and debate opportunities in Nebraska schools.
“Competitive speech and debate changes lives,” Richard wrote. “Participants build confidence, enhance their interdisciplinary classroom performance, improve communication skills and increase critical thinking and are better prepared for college and life’s challenges.”
“They remember these experiences,” Richard said. “The students become almost a family within the school.”
A Gift for Future Generations
Richard’s parents also were lifelong supporters of education. His mother volunteered with the PTA at Miller Park Elementary. His father, who lost his own father at a young age, had been forced to leave school early to support his family, but he believed in the power of education.
After his father passed away in 2003, Richard began thinking about how to honor both of his parents. Working with the University of Nebraska Foundation, he established the Richard D. Brown UNO College of Education Speech, Debate, Drama and Journalism Scholarship to support areas he sees as increasingly vulnerable yet critically important.
“Speech and debate is in trouble in many schools,” he said. Journalism and theater, too, face shortages of qualified teachers and burnout. “There are certain areas … where schools are having a hard time,” he said. Richard’s scholarship is designed to help fill that gap.
Richard has met recipients of his scholarship and heard firsthand how his support is helping them pursue their goals. Through his generosity, he is ensuring that the next generation has the same chance he had to find their voice.
“There’s just so many successful stories,” he said. “Mine is just one.”
“There are certain areas … where schools are having a hard time,” Richard’s scholarship is designed to help fill that gap.
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