| Notes |
- Edgel W. Richardson earned the rank of Captain in the Air Force. A bomber pilot and squadron commander with the 15th Air Force in Italy during WWII, he was shot down over Vienna, Austria on March 22, 1945, on his 44th mission ? one mission short of his promotion to Major. He was then taken prisoner and sent to a Prisoner of War camp near Munich. Based on reports, Edgel was imprisoned for at least 244 days (~9 months). Later in the year, the camp was liberated by General George Patton's Third Army.
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The October, 1996 Crosswinds, New Mexico alternative newspaper, published:
8. E.W. (RICH) RICHARDSON, Albuquerque
Rich Ford, investments
$62 million
RICH MAN
Here's a fellow who keeps a surprisingly low profile considering a diminutive of his name is on the door of a very prominent business. Richardson retired some time ago from active management of his Albuquerque car dealerships, which include the flagship -- and aptly named -- Rich Ford, plus outlets selling Kia, Mazda and Suburu plus dealerships in other cities. It's believed to be the largest car operation in New Mexico, an impressive credential in a state drowning in auto sales sludge.
After learning the business by running a used car lot, Richardson established Rich Ford Sales in 1961 and built it into one of the country's top Ford dealerships. Richardson Investments, a holding company, is involved in financial services endeavors, including insurance and warranty protection. Over the years it has topped several lists of the state's largest privately held companies. Rivals say the 75-year-old Richardson has been especially successful at attracting and keeping talented managers.
Richardson's influence is everywhere on the New Mexico car scene. Fifteen years ago he sold Casey Luna his first car dealership in Belen. Bob ("No Bull") Turner left as Richardson's top aide to take over a faltering Ford dealership a little way down Lomas Blvd. NE.
After Richardson objected last year, The Albuquerque Tribune did not pursue an article about individual residential water usage that might have mentioned him, owner of one of the newspaper's biggest advertisers. Tribune editor Scott Ware, who says that at the time he "barely knew" who Richardson was, said the project was dropped because it didn't seem fair to single out individuals. Richardson, he added, was one of several persons who complained.
We wanted to ask Richardson about all this, but he did not return our call.
http://www.williampbarrett.com/CrossRich/index_files/Page256.htm
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He established the E.W. Richardson Excellence in Teaching Award at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine as gratitude for the education his daughter, Dr. Patrice K. Richardson of Austin, received there.
https://med.unr.edu/faculty/development/ew-richardson-award
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In December, 2014, the family made a contribution to the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, who named a building the E.W. Richardson American Leadership building. It is located in the 200 block of Massachusetts Avenue.
https://www.internhousingllc.com
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Retired Austin, Texas, radiologist Patrice K. Richardson, M.D., and several members of her family will honor her late father, E.W. "Rich" Richardson, with an eight-figure gift to The Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC, the prominent think tank announced today.
The gift will be used to advance the missions of both Heritage and its sister organization, Heritage Action for America.
The gift also will help finance the purchase and renovation of a new office building and conference center ? to be named the E.W. Richardson American Leadership Building ? in the 200 block of Massachusetts Ave., NE, on Capitol Hill, where The Heritage Foundation has had its headquarters since the 1980s.
A long-time supporter of The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Richardson previously had established a Heritage fellowship in her father?s honor. James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Heritage's vice president of foreign and defense policy studies, serves as the E.W. Richardson Fellow.
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Obituary:
E.W. "Rich" Richardson Among Nation's Top Ford Dealers
By Paul Logan
Journal Staff Writer
E.W. "Rich" Richardson, who went from selling used cars in Albuquerque to becoming one of the nation's top Ford dealers, died Thursday.
Richardson suffered an aortic aneurysm at his Austin, Texas, home. He was 81.
Richardson, operator of 10 dealerships in New Mexico and Texas, had lived in Albuquerque since 1946. He had, for a number of years, divided his time between both homes.
A big man at 6-foot-5 and about 215 pounds, Richardson shied away from the media spotlight, according to friends.
Bob Turner, a longtime friend and business partner, described Richardson as a person with "a good heart and a great brain."
The chief executive officer of Bob Turner's Ford Country said Richardson had the ability to figure things out in his head when others needed pencil and paper or adding machines.
Turner said Richardson taught him "how to treat people and get them to do the best that they could do for themselves."
"He helped me get into the business ... and let me become part of his business life."
In a joint statement, Bill Ford, Ford Motor Co. board chairman, and Jim O'Conner, Ford president, said the "entire automotive industry has suffered a great loss..."
"Over the years, Rich provided invaluable advice to the Ford Motor Co. and was a contributor to the development of the strong relationship between Ford and its franchise dealers. He was known and respected by dealers throughout the nation and by Ford executives."
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said he had the privilege of knowing Richardson.
Domenici said Richardson "was very good to me... He was my finance chairman in Bernalillo County," helping Domenici make his first successful Senate run.
"The story of his life is the story of a hard-working, dedicated, very successful man who ran his business and took care of his family," he said.
Richardson was born in Kim, Colo., a tiny farming community in the southeastern part of the state.
He attended Trinidad Junior College and Denver Junior College before joining the Army Air Corps in 1942.
Richardson was only 22 when he became captain of a B-24 out of Italy making raids on central Europe and Germany.
His bomber was hit by German fire in March 1945. He waited until all his crew bailed out before he left the crippled aircraft.
When he jumped, Richardson was hit by the plane's tail. He broke his shoulder and was taken prisoner, Turner said.
After the war, Richardson decided to join a partnership in a California airport. He stopped in Albuquerque and ended up staying.
Richardson bought a small motel, operating it before opening a little used-car operation with a friend. He went on to own Renault and Volvo dealerships in the 1950s as well as Central Auto Exchange.
He bought Jones Motor Co., a Ford dealership at San Mateo and Lomas NE, in 1961. Two years later, he moved Rich Ford to its current location at Lomas and Wyoming NE.
Richardson's Ford, Mazda, and Kia dealerships in Albuquerque and Edgewood have about 300 employees.
His Texas dealerships are in San Antonio, San Marcos and Victoria. He previously owned dealerships in Phoenix and the Seattle area.
Last year, Rich Ford ranked among the top 80 Ford dealerships in the nation based on sales volumes. There are more than 5,000 Ford dealerships.
A memorial service in Albuquerque will be held in several weeks, according to the family.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara, and four children, Terry, Kim, Patty and Sandy.
The Albuquerque Journal, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003
Similar published in Austin American-Statesman on Feb. 28, 2003.
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1921 - 2003 (81 years)
[1] 