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Leroy Alexander
Richardson became a teacher at A. T.
Johnson High School after graduating
from college. He served as the school's
principal from 1942 to 1962.
"There was one
school for blacks in Westmoreland County
and he was the principal," said a son,
Kelvin L. Richardson of Glen Allen.
"It was a very
small school and he was instrumental in
helping it to grow. They did a lot of
drilling to make sure students knew
their work. He built the [school's]
first sports teams -- baseball and
basketball."
Mr. Richardson,
who retired in 1977 as principal of
Fairfield Junior High School in Henrico
County, died of heart problems Thursday
in a Henrico hospital, where he had
recently undergone intestinal surgery.
The 95-year-old
Petersburg native was the youngest and
last-surviving child of 12 born to a
blacksmith and his wife. His mother died
when he was 10 and his father died when
Mr. Richardson was 12.
"He went sibling
to sibling, living with some of his
older married brothers and sisters. He
said he was pretty much on his own from
age 12," his son said.
The Richmond
resident put himself through Virginia
State College, where he earned a
bachelor's degree in secondary
education, by doing odd jobs. "He'd go
to New York and work during the summer
and return to Virginia State for fall
semester," his son said.
He left A. T.
Johnson to become assistant principal at
Virginia Randolph High School in Henrico
in 1962 and was there when schools began
integrating.
In 1970, Mr.
Richardson was named principal at
Fairfield Junior High School, the first
African-American to hold that post. "He
mentioned that it was a challenge," his
son said.
A strict
disciplinarian, "he demanded high
performance from his students. He seemed
to be well-liked by his students. He was
humble and unassuming. He didn't act the
part of the principal. He was very down
to earth," his son said.
He had served as a
Sunday school teacher and sung in the
Men's Chorus at First African Baptist
Church at 2700 Hanes Ave., where his
service will be held next Saturday at 11
a.m. Burial will be in Forest Lawn
Cemetery.
"He was a deacon
at church. He was always ready to help
people, and if he couldn't help, he'd
find other church members would could,"
his son said.
"He was a very
encouraging person and would have
positive things to say to people. He
really had the knack to cheer you up and
make you feel good."
In addition to his
son, survivors include his wife of more
than 50 years, Helen Lundy Richardson;
another son, Kenneth W. Richardson; and
a daughter, Carolyn Goode, both of
Henrico; and six grandchildren. |
