Longtime advocate for children dies

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - David Richart, the founding director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, has died at his home in suburban Louisville at age 63.

Richart was one of the state's best-known voices on child abuse and juvenile justice issues.

He helped draft what became Kentucky's uniform juvenile law, the first attempt to standardize state law dealing with children charged with offenses, according to The Courier-Journal of Louisville.

Richart's friend and colleague, Helen Deines, told the newspaper he was recently diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.

Richart is credited as a driving force behind creation of Kentucky Youth Advocates in 1976, helping shape it into a well-known advocacy and lobbying group for children. Richart served as its first executive director and remained there for 20 years.

Pearson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are pending.

------

Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com