[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SALUTE TO REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM ``BILL'' RICHARDSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 1997

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Mississippi 
[MS] State Representative William ``Bill'' Richardson who was born 
December 26, 1951, in Indianola, MS.
  Mr. Richardson suddenly departed his life on Tuesday, March 25, 
leaving a proud legacy as a husband, father, educator, community 
activist, and public servant. He was the faithful husband to Doris and 
the loving father to Hope and Tiffany. Words cannot describe the 
dedication and devotion he showed to his wonderful family.
  He received his early education in the Sunflower [MS] County Public 
Schools and received a bachelor's degree from Mississippi Valley State 
University [MVSU] and did post graduate work at both MVSU and the 
University of Southern Mississippi.
  Mr. Richardson served almost 20 years as an educator in the Indianola 
[MS] School District where he taught Social Studies and Civics. In 
1992, after an active career in the Sunflower County community he was 
elected to the Mississippi State House of Representatives. While 
serving in the Mississippi Legislature he was appointed to the 
Committee on Education, the Committee on Agriculture and the Joint 
Legislative Parole Commission. During the 1995 Legislative Session, 
Representative Richardson was elected Sergeant-at-arms of the 
Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.
  During his illustrative career, he remained active in the Mississippi 
Association of Educators, he National Educators Association, the 
Indiana Association of Educators, the Board of Directors for Delta 
Housing, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People, the Rasberry United Methodist Men's Club, and the Sunflower 
County Chapter of the MVSU Alumni Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring a devoted husband, 
father, and public servant for his outstanding contributions to the 
State of Mississippi.

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