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.
"... do good for
others and goodness
will return to you ..."
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.
