James Franklin Richardson, Sr.

1997 Honoree

The Honorable James Franklin Richardson is a native North Carolinian. Richardson served one two-year term in the North Carolina House. In June 1994, he retired from the North Carolina Senate after serving four two-year terms. At t he time of his retirement, Richardson was honored during A Celebration of Public Service and Dedication to The Citizens of North Carolina by Governor James Hunt. An article dated June 18, 1994 in The Charlotte Observer stated "With Jim Richardson retiring, the General Assembly is losing a man who speaks- and votes- his mind."

Richardson grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. His uncle was the dynamic Colonel Taylor, who was born a slave and became a successful businessman. In 1885, Colonel Taylor was elected alderman for one term in Charlotte. An alderman is an official who makes laws for a city or town. This was a remarkable accomplishment for a city or town. This was a remarkable accomplishment for a black man in those times.

After graduation from high school, Richardson served in the Navy during World War II and was stationed at Great Lake, Illinois, for boot training and Aviation Metalsmith School. He spent the rest of his naval career in the South Pacific. Richardson graduated from Johnson C. Smith University with a major in Physical Education and a minor in General Science.

Richardson started his postal career in 1949 as a postal clerk in the Charlotte Post Office, later transferring to the Railway Postal Service where he served on many train routes. When mail routes on trains were eliminated, he re-entered the Charlotte Post Office and held many supervisory positions.

Richardson served his last eight of 33 years of federal employment as a U.S. Postmaster in Mt. Holly, North Carolina. He is now serving as a County Commissioner in Mecklenburg County. He says he continues to serve so that he can help people who are usually forgotten. He remembers his family from a very early age drilling him on "do good for others and goodness will return to you" and has followed this wisdom all of his life.