A short tribute to RDR - aka 'the Bear' - whose influence on his
students extended far beyond mere music (and hall passes):
Most teachers only teach a subject or two - the man I knew as
MISTER Richardson (or 'Sir') taught Life Skills: hard work, solid
cooperation with others, how to march in a three-hour parade
behind elephants, how not to be disappointed or give up when
it got tough. Your uniform was hot and uncomfortable? So was
everyone else's - suck it up and march on! Want to make First
Chair? Don't gripe - practice, practice, practice!
Most of all, he excelled at finding what his students were really
capable of - not necessarily by the easiest route. He challenged
his bands to do more, and his students were the better for it. He
took great personal pride in what his students accomplished - a
truly humble man.
I recall Jill as a baby, Toni as 'exotic' (since she spoke Italian!), and
when the Richardsons bought their house in Edgington. [When I see
it from 192, it's still 'the Richardson's house'.] Oddly enough, my
business travel last week took me to Verona and Vicenza, though I
had forgotten the Richardsons lived there before coming to RHS. I'll
guess his stint as a DoDDS teacher is yet another example of his
commitment to others - bringing music to the children of US military
personnel in far-away places; not easy work by any means.
William Ellis - proud to have been a student of Mister Richardson.