LaMond Richard (Rick) Chudomelka

LaMond Richard (Rick) Chudomelka, 88 of Beebe, passed away Monday, October 10, 2022. He was born August 6, 1934 in Scribner, Neb., to Stanley and Blazena Chudomelka.

Mr. C, as his students called him, had a long career in arts and education, starting his career as a music and speech teacher in numerous Missouri high schools from 1954-1964.  In 1965, he was named director of theatre at the Beebe Campus of Arkansas State University, designing and directing 137 plays and musicals during his tenure. He often said his goal was not to create Broadway in Beebe, but to open doors to a whole new world for young people.

He founded the Arkansas Shakespeare Festival at the university in 1965, which more than two thousand high school students from all over the state attend annually.  During that time, in 1968 he was named Entertainment Director of Silver Dollar City Theme Park in Branson, Missouri. Then later served as the first Entertainment Director of Dogpatch USA
Theme park from 1969-1976. He retired from Arkansas State University-Beebe in 1999 after his many years of teaching in
Fine Arts, staying in Beebe as his home. Even after retirement, he continued to influence young people and support arts education through his dedicated volunteer work with the drama and theater programs at Beebe High School, where he helped mentor and consult on everything from play direction to set design.

His career garnered him many awards and recognitions. His work with the American College Theatre Festival earned him the Gold Medallion Award of Excellence from The Kennedy Center in 1977. He was also honored as a Silver Anniversary Symposium fellow in 1993. He was the charter member of the Arkansas Thespians Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2006, he received the EdTA President’s Award.

He enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, woodworking, piano, antiques and curating his annual Christmas light display on Center Street. His dedication to the arts and influence on young lives will continue to leave a lasting impact for
years to come.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Jane Chudomelka; brother, Herschel Chudomelka; daughters, Sherry (Brinn) Williford, Kim (Gary) Row, Debbie (Tom) Hill, Cindy (Randy) Lerman, Tammy (Chris) Zabrosky; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Stanley Chudomelka; grandson, Jacob Williford.  A Memorial Visitation will be held Friday, October 14th from 6-8 p.m., at Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe.