"Catfish" Catron's Speech

                                       RICHARDSON SCHOLARSHIP REMARKS

     Good afternoon SBU.  I bring you greetings from First Baptist Church in Nevada...a long time supporter of this institution and home of the L. F. Richardson Family.
     I have always thought that it was a shame that the chronicle of the people who have generously provided financial support to universities and other organizations is lost as time passes.  I am pleased that SBU realizes the importance of remembering these families and it is my pleasure to share with you the Richardson heritage.  However frankly speaking, the Richardsons would be somewhat embarrassed by this acknowledgement, as they were very humble people who shied away from any personal recognition.
     Mr. Richardson started Richardson Motor Company, a purveyor of Chrysler automobiles, in 1923, with $5,000 of borrowed money.   To give you  a glimpse of his integrity, he promised his lenders that he would not take a personal salary until the loan was paid back.  He parlayed that start into a million dollar plus business that allowed him to amass a second fortune outside the car company.
     He was also the quintessential boss as attested by the fact that the same sales manager, salesmen, mechanics, and office people worked under his employment until they retired.  In all my dealings with the company, I never heard an employee say a harsh word about him.
     Affectionately named Nevada's Ben Franklin by a close friend and prominent attorney, Don W. Kennedy, he likened Mr. Richardson to the early American icon for his sage advice and sensible living.  He was an advocate and practiced Franklin's entire list of "13 virtures."  Franklin, as you recall, gave us the saying, "A pennys saved is a penny earned."  Richardson was a proponent of this theory and the following illustrations will bring credence to his frugal ways.  The employees of the motor company always tried to get him to drive a Chrysler Imperial which was the top of the line.  They suggested to him that he needed to portray more of a successful image to promote the business.  His reply, "I'm a working stiff and the car I drive will reflect that image."  He was a short somewhat stocky gentleman and that created a problem when it came to his personal attire.  While he would have preferred to wear off the rack clothing he could not get a proper fit.  So he chose to have his suits custom tailored.  While most of the prominent business men in the community chose luxury fabrics and had them handmade, he selected a more practical fabric and machine tailoring.  When it came to his home, he lived in a rather modest dwelling that was none the less well cared for with a fresh coat of paint every year.  Mrs. Richardson, a dignified lady in her own right, loved flowers and the property was adorned with a variety of well cared for flora.  With these illustrations, I would not want to leave you with the impression that Richardsons were misers.  Quite the contrary, they simply lived way below their means and gave much to others.  What a beautiful example of stewardship.
     Perhaps there is no greater testimony to his character than his long relationship with Clarence Lee, the last survivor of Nevada's black community at that time.  That was a period in history when it was not in vogue to be associated with Blacks in Nevada.  But Clarence was more than an employee; he was best "buds" with the boss and not only served as an all around handy man, but was also a confidant.  Their friendship served to temper race relations in a community that here-to-fore had not been tolerant of Blacks.
     Another of his passions was patriotism expressed through a limitless number of donated flagpoles.  He was one of the key promoters of the 1948 campaign to bring the city manager form of government to Nevada.  He also served numerous terms on the city council.  Richardson also sought to perpetuate his civic contributions by setting up a foundation which still to this day makes gifts to charities in the spirit of the founder.
     Unlike Ben Franklin, Mr. Richardson was an unabashed Christian and Baptist.  For years he was a deacon and served as Sunday School Superintendent of First Baptist Church in Nevada.  Every Sunday he would rally the congregation and promote the importance of being in Sunday School.  He always had a thought for the day.  His favorite was:  "The tragedy of life...is that we grow old too soon... and wise too late."  Savvy advice even today.  Mrs. Richardson was also involved in the many phases of the church and made her own distinct contributions to the musical life of the church.
     The Ministerial Scholarship progam, which we are recognizing today, combines two of the primary interests of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson:  the gospel ministry and higher education.  The ministerial scholarship program was started in 1957 with the first two bestowed in 1958.  Since that time numerous awards have been given to young people preparing for the ministry, missions, music and education minisrtry and military chaplaincy.  The Richardsons  have truly lived out the Great Commision found in Matthew 28:19-20:  "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  While the Richardsons were not personally called to the ministry, they have used God's material blessings to help send countless numbers of trained men and women out into the highways and byways to proclaim the good news that "Jesus Saves!"

SAD DAY FOR ME?

     I was called to Moore-Few Nursing facility on late Tuesday afternoon because one of our members, Marj Olson, was in critical condition and not expected to live very long.  Her sister, Virginia Price, shared a room with her.  When I entered the room Mrs. Price was on one side of the bed and another resident was on the other side.  Marj was in distress but alert enough to speak.
     Even though she was in discomfort, she still responded with "Oh, Bill" because we had been buddies for years.  I have walked with her through many valleys such as the time she almost died of a heart attack and the time when she lost her husband, Gene.  She still had the same smile and twisted sort of humor that I loved.  We always teased each other unmercifully.  I would try to catch her off guard; she would do the same with me.
     After some conversation about her readiness to leave Planet Earth, I asked if she wanted prayer and she reached out both arms and we held hands.  Then I led in prayer, the Lord's prayer, and then annointed her with oil.  When I finished, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," her sister began quoting Psalm 23.  She got most all of it by memory!
     About the time I left the room, she called back to me for one last "teasing" comment.  I knew she would not last long and I thought of her humor but also her love for our FBC family.  Although Marj didn'thave a lot of resources, she came to church back in the early 1990s and gave a testimony about her commitment to the new church campus and gave $1,000.  In the grand scheme of things (3 million dollar project), that didn't represent a major donation.  But it was major to her and her courage cost her at least one friend who was opposed.  Maybe more.
      The next day I heard that she went to be with our Lord in the night and I kept waiting to hear some news about the memorial service plans.  Today I found out.  There are none.  It was a direct burial.  Her request.  That rat!  She wouldn't let me have an opportunity to celebrate her life and tell one last story or humorous tidbit about her.  She got in the the last tease.  On the way out the door.  And no one will get to hear  me expound.  Darn, Marj!  You got me again.