Richard "Dick" Frank Lawyer, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. He was 80.
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| The AP's Dick Lawyer |
Known for his professionalism and deep commitment to accurate news reporting, he played a key role in shaping broadcast journalism across the state during a distinguished career.
Born in Johnson City, New York, and raised in Binghamton, Lawyer was the son of the late Marie (Espy) and Ronald Lawyer. He graduated from Chenango Valley High School before earning his degree from Houghton College (now Houghton University) in Houghton, New York. He later attended Eastern Baptist Seminary (now Palmer Seminary) in Philadelphia from 1968 to 1970.
Lawyer began his professional career in religious broadcasting, serving as News Director for the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) from 1970 to 1972. He then joined The Associated Press, where he spent the remainder of his working life contributing to high-quality journalism and mentoring generations of broadcast professionals.