Mr. Richard Ouzts, 59, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025.

Mr. Richard had a remarkable gift for turning silence into laughter. His presence could light up any room, and his sense of humor ensured every gathering was more memorable.

On Friday nights, Mr. Richard was a familiar voice at football games, joining Mr. Reggie Salazar and Mr. Jared Dawsey as part of the reporting team. Together, they entertained everyone with their commentary and a pregame segment called “Leonard’s Losers.” Instead of picking the winners, the goal of this game was to predict who would lose the match—a clever twist that always sparked lively debates and plenty of laughter. The winner earned bragging rights and the crown until the next season.

Over the years, Mr. Richard created countless cherished memories for those around him.

Bergen Leon, a senior at Chapin High and Student Producer for CSPN, shared, “I had a lot of good memories and laughs with Mr. Richard over the four years I’ve known him.”

Michael Koen, also a senior at Chapin High and Cameraman for CSPN, reflected, “I have had lots of good memories with him and laughs over the past few years I’ve known him, and he has been a light of happiness to the crew and me.”

Personally, I have many wonderful memories of Mr. Richard. Although I saw him mainly at Friday football games these past two years, his kindness and humor always stood out. He never missed a chance to tease us if we forgot our crew shirts, and those small moments caused everyone to smile.

One story I’ll never forget happened at the Dutch Fork game in the fall of 2025. Before the game, I was showing some younger crew members how to use a computer they hadn’t worked with before. Mr. Richard asked me, “What CSPN job do you want to do next year?” I told him I wanted to be the Student Producer, just like Bergen did this year. He grinned and said, “You want to be in charge… just like your mother.” (My mother is the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Chapin High.) That comment brightened my day and gave me a good laugh.

Beyond his reporting, Mr. Richard was always ready to help the crew–whether or not he was behind the camera. We always could count on him.

After each game, no matter the outcome, he found something positive to say. While the adults gave feedback, Mr. Richard—along with Mr. Salazar, Mr. Dawsey, and Mr. Slice—would always remind us of the good work we’d done, even if things didn’t go perfectly.

Mr. Richard’s commitment extended beyond football. He also supported the Chapin Swim Team. Ms. Karen Edwards recalls how he cheered for her daughter, Madeline, at swim meets, making her feel special and supported.

Despite his multitude of commitments, Mr. Richard created time for his family. He was known for being hardworking, generous, and passionate about everything he did.

To me and many others, CSPN feels like a family, and Mr. Richard strengthened it. He went out his way to make sure everyone felt welcome and ensured there was always laughter to share.

He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered for all the wonderful memories he gave us.

Rest in peace, Mr. Richard.