LSU School of Information Studies celebrates the life of acclaimed young adult author Richard Peck and his lasting legacy on LSU.

BATON ROUGE – “We first met at an ALAN Workshop,” said Patsy Perritt. “Richard was giving a talk, and I was sitting in the first row. I remember thinking ‘I’m blown away…this is the best speaker I’ve heard in my entire life!’”

In that moment, Patsy Perritt knew two things – 1) she was determined to become a faculty member at LSU and 2) once established at LSU, she wanted to be for the community. One of her main goals would be to establish an author/illustrator program at the East Baton Rouge Library in conjunction with the children’s services division…and Richard Peck would be her first invitee.

She ended that day eating pecan pie with Richard and his mother; a personal and professional relationship that spanned decades.

As far as meet-cutes go, Patsy and Richard’s is one for the books. And that is appropriate, given ALAN is the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE, Richard is one of the most celebrated young adult authors of our time, and Patsy did indeed become faculty in the LSU School of Information Studies.

Richard Peck began his career as a teacher before becoming a full-time writer. He published more than 40 novels for young readers and young adults as well as professional articles supporting teachers, librarians and readers. Other works by Peck include poetry, short stories, novels for adults, and a picture book for children. Mr. Peck was the first guest author at the Author/Illustrator Program sponsored by the Baton Rouge Public Library System and the LSU School of Information Studies in 1977. From that time, he returned to Louisiana to do research for his books, give guest lectures at LSU, and speak in schools and libraries. In 1996 he was appointed Adjunct Professor in the LSU School of Information Studies where he co-taught courses until 2010, including three Academic Programs Abroad. 

While teaching at LSU, Peck established the Richard Peck Youth Services Scholarship and endowed the Patsy H. Perritt Chair in Youth Services. Peck delivered his final professional speech at the 2017 Louisiana Book Festival.

“Richard valued being part of the LSU family and loved to visit the university. Over the years, he developed lasting friendships in Baton Rouge, largely due to Patsy and Ron Perritt, who were among his closest friends,” said Richard’s sister, Cheryl Peck. “Richard engaged students quickly because of his sincere desire to understand what it was like to be in young shoes. They sensed that nothing was more interesting to him than what they had to say. And what they told him fed his imagination -- his desire to create characters in his books that they would find authentic and inspiring.”

LSU Director Emerita Beth Paskoff, PhD, agrees that Richard had a gift for listening and connecting emotionally with students of all ages as well as being a “splendid storyteller, who could keep an individual or a hundred people enthralled.” She said, “Our LSU students (and students outside [our school] also took his courses) were so fortunate to have Richard Peck share his extensive knowledge and experience as an author.  When most faculty help students to learn about the publishing process, they cannot speak as successful, award-winning authors.  In his classes, Richard provided details about the process of writing (and re-writing), listening for what the characters were telling him, and told about how some of his books started with one plot and ended up going in a different direction.  As a result, school and public librarians, who had been his students, can tell readers about how a book comes to be.”

Peck was widely celebrated for his work. He was the winner of the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards Award for "significant and lasting contributions to young adult literature", the National Council of Teachers of English/ALAN Award, the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award, and the prestigious Newbery Medal. Peck was twice named a National Book Award finalist and in 2002, Mr. Peck became the first young adult author to be awarded a National Humanities Medal, presented by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. 

While the literary and reading worlds truly loved Richard, Cheryl shared one his greatest attributes was seeing others and celebrating them. “Richard had a generous heart, often acknowledging other young adult authors during his speaking engagements and helping aspiring writers with their manuscripts. On many occasions, I witnessed the awe and respect on the faces of his readers who stood in long lines to meet him. He greeted each with grace and generosity. They came to have their books signed and left feeling personally touched by him.”

Our LSU alumni agree. Richard definitely makes an impact.

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In Their Own Words…

Richard’s LSU students share moments and memories that made an impact

Melony LeMay | MLIS 2011 | Project Recovery Scholar
Librarian, Oak Park Middle School 
I was attending the 2011 ALA Conference in New Orleans, an LSU SLIS student and Project Recovery Scholar.
My father was with me and we were staying at the fabulous W Hotel.  I called the front desk and found out where I could get my Father some coffee.  I did so and quickly left to go to the conference.

I was in the elevator when this tall nice man entered wearing a pink shirt. He smiled at me. I immediately liked him. I told him there was complimentary coffee on the second floor. He smiled and said, "Oh thank you that sounds good." We both smiled and said, "Have a good day."

I made it hastily to the conference. I wanted to see some authors and see exhibits. I volunteered to work at the LSU booth. I had set my alarm for 2:00 so I wouldn't miss seeing Richard Peck.
I quickly walked to the area where the author would be. I stood in line because I wanted to buy his newest book at the time, Three Quarters Dead, and have it autographed.  I had heard him speak about it before it came out during an LSU class via Compressed Video.

A large crowd of people were in line. All of a sudden I hear, "My friend, thank you so much for the coffee."  He hugged me. It was Richard Peck! I had no idea the man in the elevator was author Richard Peck! I tried not to look shocked. Everyone looked at me in awe. He took my hand and led me to the front of the line. He picked up one of his books and said I want to give you a book to thank you for your kindness.  He autographed it and we took a picture together.  What a treasured memory of a wonderful man!

 

Pam Suggs | MLIS 1991
Director, Claiborne Parish Library
I was fortunate to have had a class with Richard Peck.  It was a young adult literature class taught by Dr. Perritt and we were meeting in Shreveport during a summer concentrated class. We were all in awe that Dr. Perritt was such a close friend to him.

When I came to class and saw him for the first time I was amazed that he was such a dynamic storyteller. He was outgoing, down to earth, energetic and above all passionate about teaching young adults and writing excellent books for them.  He was totally committed to his work.  Richard Peck encouraged us as librarians to reach out to the young adults in our own communities with public library services that would engage their interests and to have available to them the best of young adult literature.  He made a deep impression on me that young adults should not fall into the “black hole” of library services.  He was an amazing person. 

 

Cinde Sulik | MLIS 1994
Librarian, St. Thomas More Catholic High School
As a single mom, I really had to watch my expenses. I was lucky enough to be working on my MLIS at a time when the state helped cover continuing education for teachers who were working outside of their certification. I was teaching high school English so of course I knew about Richard Peck as a writer; I was also working part of the day in the school library with Susan Hamilton, who had taken a class with Richard and introduced me to him. He was also a guest lecturer in summer novels classes I took at LSU as part of my curriculum. And of course, Dr. Patsy Perritt brought him in to talk to students in her classes. What struck me most about Richard Peck were his humor, his ability to bring other times and places to life, and his knowledge and command of his craft.

For my last semester, I had to intern at other school libraries--a required course not covered by the state program. The Peck Scholarship allowed me to finish my MLIS without having to worry about how I was going to pay for it. Since finishing in 1994, I have been a librarian at St. Thomas More. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the classes I took, the professors and colleagues I worked with, and the chance to meet such a fine person as Richard Peck.

 

Leslie Carloss | MLIS 2006
Middle/High School Librarian, Opelousas Catholic School
I took the literature course in the summer with Richard Peck and Dr. Perritt.

It was a great experience! I didn't always agree with everything (we had some lively discussions), but he made me think about things like the color and design of a book cover differently; I loved one of his covers and he didn't like it!

My daughter and I had listened to A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder on audiobook and really liked them; she was in Middle School and they were on her summer reading list. We even named her new kitten Bootsie after the cat from the books.

He was a fine gentleman and he will be missed.

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This year marks an important milestone in Richard’s legacy. The LSU School of Information Science welcomed their first person to hold the Patsy H. Perritt Chair in Youth Services to LSU – Kathleen Campana, PhD, began her work at LSU in the Fall 2024 semester. In a poignant parallel to Patsy Perritt, Campana is passionate about researching and understanding how community spaces and informal learning environments can provide more effective learning and development support for young children and their families, particularly for those from underserved communities.

"Richard was indeed a caring, compassionate individual with a true gift for connecting with others, and he had a wonderfully wry sense of humor," said Carol Barry, PhD, Director of LSU School of Information Studies. "His contributions to the School of Information Studies, from teaching courses to creating a scholarship to support students interested in youth services librarianship to endowing the Patsy H. Perritt Chair in Youth Services, have had an immeasurable and ongoing impact on our students. We were very lucky to have this very special friend and he is greatly missed."

LSU will be forever grateful for Richard’s passion for education and the precious gifts of his time and talents that he poured into generations of LSU students, as well as the time he spent with our Baton Rouge community.

“In the College of Human Sciences & Education, we are changemakers. When our graduates show up in communities, whether they are teaching, counseling families, providing health care, or connecting people with resources and information, we make them better. Richard Peck is the epitome of a changemaker,” said LSU College of Human Sciences & Education Dean Roland Mitchell. “Richard Peck’s generosity knows no bounds. He gave to students in the form of scholarships and by teaching traveling abroad and mentoring. The pay-it-forward effect is exponential as these students are now in careers in every part of our state, in libraries and other community-serving places and positions. It’s so special to remember his propensity for building authentic relationships and helping others as we celebrate Dr. Campana, the Patsy H. Perritt Chair for Youth Services. I cannot wait to see how his legacy continues to geaux change lives in Louisiana and beyond.”

 

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