Beyond the Pages with J.R. Mitchell Fletcher
About the Author
J.R. Mitchell Fletcher is our author’s pen name. Born on October 23, 1953, and known to family and friends as Ricardo Charles Mitchell, the second son of a career waitress and railroad worker. He and his six siblings were all born and raised in Washington DC and attended DC Public Schools. As a child, Ricardo was naturally shy and very small for his age. Often, he would fight off the much bigger kids of his same age who tried to take advantage of him. They soon learned he wasn’t an easy mark. By age ten, he was known as one of the toughest kids in the neighborhood, as he protected himself and his younger siblings.
Ricardo proved to be an outstanding actor and athlete as well. He credits his participation in several junior high and high school plays and athletics with helping to overcome his shyness. He played youth football, basketball, baseball, and boxed for the local Boy’s Club. But it was football that he favored most. He would spend hours playing, watching, and practicing, alone, to become better. In high school, he played two years (1971-1972) behind Cornelius Green, the first black quarterback at The Ohio State University. He owes his development and refinement of his game to Cornelius who took the time to practice one-on-one with him daily and he patterned his game after his.
After high school graduation, Ricardo was selected for the DC Coaches Football All-Star Team in 1973 and was named the second-string quarterback for the All-Star Team. His All-Star Team won the game. Upon entering Bowie State College as a freshman and after the team lost 3 straight games, Ricardo was named the starting quarterback and led his team to 3 straight wins, before breaking his thumb on his throwing hand. In 1975 as a junior, he led his football team to its first 9 wins and only 1 lost season and the team was crowned Independent Black College Champions by Jet Magazine. He was also named by the Baltimore Sun Newspaper, Honorable Mention Quarterback. 1976, his senior year, he was again named by the Baltimore Sun Newspaper, Honorable Mention Quarterback.
After graduating from Bowie State College/University in 1977 with a Batchelor of Science Degree in Political Science he decided not to attend Law School, instead he worked for a local food chain in their management program and was promoted twice. Over the years, Ricardo’s career had many twists and turns, but he always seemed to land in management. He served as a Project Manager for Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Ross Perot’s company and Computer Science Corporation (CSC) as a Contract Specialist, both Fortune 100 Companies. He served as the City Manager for the City of Glenarden Maryland, Executive Director of the Prince George’s County Democratic Party, and served as the winning Campaign Manager for State Senators Decatur Trotter and Nathaniel Exam, and Co-Chair of the Albert Wynn for Congress campaign. In retirement, Ricardo decided to try his hand at writing. He was inspired by his younger brother, Detective Robert L. Mitchell, of the DCPD.
