ELCA NEWS SERVICE
May 22, 2008
Richard Sutcliffe, 'Davey and Goliath' Creator, Producer Dies
08-071-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Richard T. Sutcliffe, creator and
executive producer of the animated television series, "Davey and
Goliath," died May 11 as a result of complications from a stroke.
Sutcliffe, 90, died at a Dallas hospital. A memorial
service is to be held at 2 p.m. May 31 at St. Mark's School of
Texas, Dallas.
It was Sutcliffe's idea that led to the popular television
series, now a property of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), which aired from 1961 to 1976. Sutcliffe chose
the name for the program and was its first executive producer.
He also chose Art Clokey and Ruth Clokey Goodell, who were
responsible for the stop-motion animation production of the show.
In 2004 Sutcliffe and the team that developed and produced
Davey and Goliath were named recipients of the Wittenberg Award
by The Luther Institute, an affiliate of the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg (LTSG). The award recognizes outstanding
service to church and society. LTSG is one of eight ELCA
seminaries.
Sutcliffe was born in 1918 in Columbia, Pa. He attended
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., and Catawba College,
Salisbury, N.C. Gettysburg is one of 28 ELCA colleges and
universities.
Sutcliffe began his career in 1942 as a reporter and
photographer for the Roanoke (Va.) Times. He was later a news
commentator at WROV, Roanoke, and assistant editor of The
Lutheran, the magazine of the former United Lutheran Church in
America (ULCA), Philadelphia.
In 1954 he began a career as the ULCA's associate director,
Department of Press, Radio and Television. In that role he was
producer-commentator of "Church World News," an interfaith
newscast and producer of the ULCA series on "The Protestant
Hour," an ecumenical radio program.
Sutcliffe was executive secretary of Lutheran Television
Associates, which, in cooperation with the NBC television
network, produced three one-hour dramas on "Matinee Theatre" in
1956.
When the United Lutheran Church merged with three other
Lutheran church bodies to form the Lutheran Church in America
(LCA) in 1962, he was named associate director of the church's
Commission on Press, Radio and Television. During his time in
that role, Sutcliffe was executive producer for the LCA's first
two dramatic presentations, "The Antkeeper," released in 1967,
and "Stalked," released in 1968.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Sutcliffe moved to
Dallas in 1969 to become director of university relations for
Southern Methodist University (SMU). He later was director of
communication for the Dallas Chamber of Commerce before he
rejoined SMU, where he worked until he retired in 1982.
Sutcliffe served on the boards of directors of LTSG and the
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He was active as
a member of the Overseas Press Club; the National Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences; the board of managers of the
Broadcasting and Film Commission, National Council of Churches,
USA; and the International Radio and TV Society.
In 1967, Hartwick College, Oneonta, N.Y., awarded Sutcliffe
an honorary doctor of letters degree.
Sutcliffe is survived by his wife Judy and two adult
children.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
