USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Richard W. Daw Retires as Head of Bishops' Publishing Office

Richard W. Daw Retires as Head of Bishops' Publishing Office

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2000) -- Richard W. Daw, who served the United States Catholic Conference (USCC) in a variety of communication-related positions during the past quarter century, most recently as director of its Office of Publishing and Promotion Services (OPPS), retired from that post June 30.

Msgr. Dennis M. Schnurr, USCC General Secretary, noted that Mr. Daw, a former official of Associated Press in New York, had served the Conference under nine Conference Presidents and five general secretaries since joining the staff in 1976. He was editor in chief of Catholic News Service, 1976-1989, Secretary for Communications, 1989-1994, and director of OPPS, 1994-2000.

"It is a very different Conference from when Dick joined the staff and he has not only witnessed first hand its development and growth but played an important role in documenting and disseminating the work of the Bishops in this country," Msgr Schnurr said. "We have all benefitted from his scholarly and gentlemanly manner.

"I want to publicly offer in my own name, and in the name of the bishops, our gratitude for all he has contributed to the Conference over the years, our esteem for his collaboration and devotion to the work of the bishops and our best wishes and prayers for his good health and happiness in his retirement," Msgr. Schnurr said.

Also acknowledging Mr. Daw's contributions were three former general secretaries under whom he served, Msgr. Daniel Hoye of the Diocese of Fall River, Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, OP, of Louisville, and Bishop Robert N. Lynch of St. Petersburg, who currently heads the Bishops' Communications Committee.

"Richard Daw has made significant contributions to the Conference during his near quarter century of service," Msgr. Hoye said. "I recall his diligent work as editor of the news service. He was always a professional in his field. When he assumed leadership of the Conference's publication services, he brought that same professionalism and a strong business sense to that office. The bishops were fortunate to have had Dick working for them for so long."

Said Archbishop Kelly: "It is an honor to have been Richard Daw's colleague during the years we worked together at the Bishops' Conference. He is a man of total integrity whose faith and professional skills have greatly advanced the work of the Church in communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

"It has been by any measure an extraordinary almost quarter century of service to the Church through communications," Bishop Lynch said.

A native of Florida, Richard Daw joined the AP in 1957. He managed bureaus in Denver, New Orleans, Honolulu, and Raleigh, N.C., and also served in New York, Little Rock, and Mexico City.

OPPS manages the NCCB/USCC publishing, promotion and copyright activity, publishes Conference documents and videos, and assists in the promotion of national collections. Paul K. Henderson, who currently heads the Bishops' Office for the Third Millennium and Jubilee Year 2000, will succeed Richard Daw, effective next January. In the interim, OPPS will be headed by Bruce Egnew, the USCC Associate General Secretary to whom it reports.