Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Richard Edwin Fox

The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep and remind Herostratus to use correct metaphors. — CharlotteWebb 17:57, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Richard Edwin Fox

Is a man who was one of 23 people executed in the state of Ohio in the last 7 years really that notable? In addition, there are sources given, but I don't think most of the content is in those sources. It is mostly unverifiable and reads like an original narrative of the proceedings. I don't know of the author's relation to this case, but if you look at the article talk page, the author says s/he witnessed the execution. Delete as non-notable and unreferenced. Metros232 13:49, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

As the author of this article, I stand by the content. The Ohio Supreme Court case cited as a source does provide all of the facts of the trial as noted in the article. The AP article summarizes the appeals and last days of Fox. I will be happy to provide copies on request, or add attribution within the article.

Regarding notoriety, I cannot vouch for Fox being notable except that there is a page of executions carried out by the State of Ohio and there were links to uncreated pages for the executed men. If Fox is not notable, then the only notable person on the list is Alton Coleman, who was a spree killer. All other pages probably could be deleted under the issue posed by Metros232.

I would also suggest that someone then examine this page to remove the non-notable persons there.

Regarding my comment about witnessing Mr. Fox's execution. I put that in very late at night, I regret doing so because it doesn't belong in Wikipedia, and I have removed it. How and why I was there isn't important at all. Marklemagne 21:40, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

 AFD relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so that consensus may be reached.
 Please add new discussions below this notice. Thanks, Sam Blanning^(talk) 18:32, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

• Pull the switch. His 15 minutes are up. Herostratus 18:46, 18 September 2006 (UTC)
• Comment. If Herostratus wants the article deleted, it would have been in better taste to have said Delete rather than what he said. --TruthbringerToronto (Talk | contribs) 03:05, 19 September 2006 (UTC)
• Keep. Conspicuously evil people can be notable. -- TruthbringerToronto (talk • contribs • page moves • block user • block log) TruthbringerToronto (Talk | contribs)
• Keep. With a little more than 3,000 prisoners among the 2.2 million persons in the American prison system, the fact that Fox was even on death row make him notable. Considering fewer than 60 of these prisoners were executed enhances his notable status. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2006). If being executed or being one of the few people who kill another person do not make someone notable under the Wikipedia guidelines, how many murders must a criminal commit, or how "heinous, atrocious or cruel" does such a crime have to be to justify inclusion? Furthermore, because Ohio has become quite active in carrying out executions, I think being one of the first in the modern era makes Fox notable. So what if he wasn't the first (or 3rd or 5th)? Marklemagne 12:38, 21 September 2006 (UTC)
• Weak keep the news sources are a weak indication for WP:BIO. Arbusto 22:20, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
• KeepI worked in the Wood Co. Prosecutor's Office at the time this matter was prosecuted. While it may not have been notable at the time of the original prosecution, it became so at the time of his execution as death penalty opponents made widespread use of this matter in the media as a prime example of what they assert is the arbritrary nature in the implementation of the death penalty. While not particularly sympathetic, his execution does seem to be for circumstances that are not as egregious as dozens or even hundreds of other murders for which a lesser sentence was imposed. For that reason, I believe this is notable and should be retained at this time. Source citations would perhaps cure some objections. And I can say from personal knowledge of the case that a few details are incorrect, so citations may cure these errors.

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.