William J. “Bill” Richardson

William J. “Bill” Richardson was born in rural Southern Oklahoma on July 31, 1926.  He was raised in Temple and Walters, Oklahoma.  His parents were Allen and Jesse (Clements) Richardson.

After graduating from Walters High School, Bill enlisted in the Army for the last part of World War II.  Following the War, he attended The University of Oklahoma.  During college, he met Marian Benton, and they married on July 31, 1948.

Bill began his career as the manager of an Antrim Lumber Company yard in Marlow, Oklahoma.  In 1955, the company called him up to the headquarters in Wichita, Kansas.  He eventually became Vice President and General Manager of the company, overseeing a chain of yards in the Midwest.  While at Antrim, he was involved in the development of Breckenridge, Colorado.

In the late 1960s, Bill and a partner founded Lumber Associates, which built a small chain of yards in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado.  He later worked as a consultant and broker in the lumber industry.

In December of 2007, Bill and Marian moved from Wichita into Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community in Lawrence, to be closer to family.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marian; son Guy of Lawrence; son Scott and daughter-in-law Leah of Lawrence; grandchildren Jesse, Hayley, Alexandria and Will Richardson; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Marguerite Peterson and Dorothy Blake.