Senator William Allen Richardson Jr

View Video Tribute View Funeral WebcastWilliam Allen "Bill" Richardson, Jr., 80, former Senator and Representative of Maury County in the Tennessee General Assembly, surveyor, and Church of Christ minister, died Monday April 2, 2012 in Tullahoma where he made his home since the summer of 2011. Born in the Campbell Station Community, he was the son of the late William Allen Richardson, Sr., long-time Maury County attorney and Alvy Holt Richardson. He earned a B. S. degree in civil engineering in 1954 from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute; and a Master of Arts degree from Harding Graduate School in 1961. On June 4, 1953, he married the former Peggy Ashburn of Putnam County.He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 - 1958 as a 1st Lieutenant which led him to Korea where he served as Company Commander. While in Korea he became concerned about the impoverished conditions existing following the conflict. When asked by a missionary to stay and help with the relief work he asked his wife to join him and together they served God by working with the Korean people from 1958 to 1971. During that time he was the recipient of a commendation from the Korean Army for Promotion of Better Korean-American Relationships in 1958; a commendation from the Korean Government for Service to Korean Orphans in 1970. He was a professor at Korean Christian College with emphasis on Old Testament theology and as needed served as Dean of the college. He was called a modern Myriel (the priest who helped Jean Valjean in Les Misérables) in a profile of him in a Korean newspaper when he left Korea. They demonstrated his attitude toward everyone through the story of how he helped a thief who asked him for forgiveness after his release from prison. Bill helped him with housing, food, and even doctors' fees in battling tuberculosis. After serving in the mission field he returned to the states and took up residence in the Culleoka Community where he was self-employed as a land surveyor. He also served as minister of the Ostella Church of Christ in Marshall County for 32 years. In all, his career in the ministry spanned over 50 years.When his father, State Representative W. Allen Richardson, Sr., prominent Maury County attorney, died unexpectedly between the primary and general elections in 1974, Bill Richardson was elected to represent House District 64 by a write-in vote during the November 1974 election in Maury and Hickman Counties. During his service in the General Assembly, he was a member of the House Transportation Committee, House Agriculture Committee, House Government Operations Committee, and House Calendarand Rules Committee. After elected to the Senate, he served as Majority Whip in the 93rd Assembly; member of Senate Transportation Committee, Senate Commerce, Labor, and Agriculture Committees, Senate Government Operations Committee (vice-chairman 93rd and 94th Assemblies and chairman 95th and 96th Assemblies), Senate Committee on Ethics, Chairman of Select Oversight Committee on Corrections, and member of Select Committee on Children and Youth. He sponsored and/or supported legislation for: Sunset review of state agencies, longevity pay for state employees, state forestry commission, safety belt use; worked on a variety of measures dealing with mental health, senior citizens, agriculture, transportation, and corrections.He served as Representative of House District 64 from 1974-1982. In 1982, he was elected to the State Senate and served the 23rd District until his retirement from elective office in 1990. He was a member of board of directors, Korea Christian Education Fund; Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors; MauryCounty Farm Bureau; served as president of Columbia Civitan Club, 1988-1989; president, Culleoka Parent-Teachers Association; Maury County Democratic Party.Loving husband, father, servant, and friend, he is survived by his wife of 58 years, Peggy Ashburn Richardson of Tullahoma; children, Allen Richardson of Tullahoma, Joy Hood and husband John of Albuquerque, NM, Rene Smith of Shelbyville, Carlton Richardson and wife Mollie of Salem, Oregon, Brett Richardson of Culleoka, Stanley Richardson of Tullahoma, Amy Ballinger of Tullahoma, and Logan Richardson and wife Carolyn Ford of Gaffney, SC.; grandchildren, Tammy Been and husband Tim of Lewisburg, Brian Darnell of Lewisburg, Angie Baldwin of Dunlap, Caleb Moss of Clayton, NC, J'Andrea, Jocelyn, and Josiah Hood of Albuquerque, NM, Danielle Clayburn of Knoxville; great-grandchildren, Ashton Darnell, Cadence and Jacob Ray, and Carson Thomas of Lewisburg, Alex and Mary Jane Baldwin of Dunlop; brother, James Richardson and wife Jeanette of Culleoka; and numerous nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at West Seventh Street Church of Christ with David D. Davidson, Marlin Finley, and Hueston Marshall officiating. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery in the Culleoka Community. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols. The family suggests memorials to Columbia Academy, 1171 Columbia Academy Circle, Columbia 38401 or St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. Active pallbearers are Joe Delk, Billy Clyde Foster, Billy Frank Jett, Wayne B. Hardison, Mark Ours, Glenn Alexander, Glenn Woodard, James Miller, and Ed Van Maren. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Stephen Simmons, Dr. Chi Ho Lee, Don Sohn, Marilyn McDermott, Chin Kon Kim, Doris Romine, Mildred Tetley, former students at Korean Christian College, former missionaries to Korea, Columbia Civitan Club, Culleoka S & K Coffee Group, former members of the Tennessee General Assemblies (1974-1990); families of God at Ostella, Campbell Station, and Wilson Avenue Churches of Christ.Peggy, the children, and their families extend deepest love and appreciation for everyone's support during this time. "We have found comfort in your prayers and sympathy. In the midst of our sorrow, we celebrate the light Dad lived to all of us. Dad is now and forever more with Jesus, his Lord." "Let me live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man." (anonymous)