Judge Richard N. Ware Iv, 47, Killed In Car Accident
Times Picayune 09-2-1996

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Judge Richard N. Ware IV, incoming president of the Louisiana District Judges
Association, died Saturday in a one-car accident near Coushatta as he was
driving home from New Orleans, where he often helped relieve overbooked court
dockets. He was 47.

State Police said that early Saturday morning Ware apparently fell asleep on
Louisiana 480 and was killed when his car hit several trees.

Since 1982, he has presided over the 39th Judicial District, composed of Red
River Parish. He was to begin his fourth term this fall.

Ware, who was to head the judicial association in October, had been second
vice president of the organization.

Ware did extensive work advocating prevention of child abuse in Louisiana.

He was chairman of the Children's' Trust Fund Board and president of the
Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. He was a member of the
Children's Code Committee and The Continuing Revision Committee of the
Louisiana Law Institute.

Ware, a star running back at Northwestern State University in 1967-70, was
about to begin his 18th season as color analyst on radio broadcasts of the
Northwestern State University Demons' football games.

"Richard Ware was a wonderful ambassador for Northwestern," said Dr. Randall
J. Webb, university president. "He bettered the lives of thousands of young
people through his extensive civic involvement, and brightened the lives of
everyone he met. This is a tragic loss for our university and the entire state
of Louisiana."

Ware, born in West Monroe, was president of his senior class at West Monroe
High School in 1967. As a hard-running fullback at Northwestern, he won All-
Gulf States Conference recognition and was the league's Most Valuable Back as
a senior.

Ware was an avid supporter of Northwestern's athletic and alumni activities
and had served as an adjunct faculty member while he practiced law in
Natchitoches before becoming district judge.

Saturday, as the university's intercollegiate women's soccer team played its
inaugural match on campus, the players and coaches wore black armbands in
tribute to Ware.

Ware is survived by his wife, Betty, and two stepchildren, James Givens, 29,
and Janelle Givens, 27.

Funeral arrangements, which are incomplete, are being handled by Rose-Neath
Funeral Home in Coushatta.