Richardson honored as Three Rivers College's Distinguished Alumni

Friends and family gathered at Three Rivers College on Friday afternoon to celebrate the highest honor awarded by the college to an alumni in recognition of their achievements and accomplishments.

Todd Richardson was presented with the 2019 Three Rivers College Distinguished Alumni Award.

The former Speaker of the Missouri House was the college’s fourth recipient of the award and was honored during a reception at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.

Todd Richardson speaks during Friday's award ceremony.DAR/Paul Davis

“One of the things I enjoyed most during my time in the General Assembly was the chance to represent the community that I call home,” Richardson said. “And there is no bigger part of our community that Three Rivers College.”

While serving in Jefferson City, Richardson said people sometimes don’t think about the opportunities a community college offers people to build a better life for themselves.

“That is what happens here every single day and the people here who dedicate their lives and careers to this institution are the ones who make it happen,” he said.

In a reception meant to celebrate Richardson, the honoree thanked his father, Mark; wife, Amber; and uncle, Matt; for their dedication to the college and helping make his service in Jefferson City possible.

As a special thank you went to his mother, Kathy, who is one of the longest tenured employees at TRC.

Richardson presented the college with a check for $10,000 as the first step for a fully endowed Kathy Richardson Scholarship, leaving his mother in tears.

“I cannot begin to tell you how proud we are as a college and how proud I am personally that Todd is an alumni,” Three Rivers College President Dr. Wesley Payne said. “I am proud to say there are many and Todd is a shining example of what a Three Rivers alumni can be and frequently are.”

In addition to receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, Richardson will serve as the speaker for the Three Rivers 2019 Commencement ceremony, which will be May 17 at the Libla Family Sports Complex.

Michelle Reynolds, Director of Development for Three Rivers College, said having the Distinguished Alumni recipient speak at commencement sets the bar high for current students and shows what is possible after graduation from TRC.

“They are able to see the talent and success that follows our alumni and see hard work and perseverance lead to huge rewards,” she said.

Representative Hardy Billington and Senator Doug Libla also presented Richardson with Resolutions during the ceremony.

Libla added it was impossible to include everything on a Resolution which Richardson had accomplished for Poplar Bluff, even before his time in the House of Representatives.

“He has done some things behind the scenes that the public will probably never know about to help individuals in our community to make sure they have the opportunities to be the best they can be, get a good job and supply for their family,” Libla said. “You have always been such a supporter of Three Rivers College.”

Richardson, a Poplar Bluff native, currently serves as the Director of MO HealthNet. Prior to that appointment, he was first elected to the House in 2010 and was appointed Speaker of the House for the State of Missouri in 2015.

In his role in Missouri government, he helped secure funding and recruited legislators to make the new Excel Center in Poplar Bluff possible.

Richardson was also responsible for securing funding for the Crisp Technology Center expansion on the Three Rivers campus.

In addition to attending Three Rivers College, Richardson also taught Business Law and Government classes as an adjunct instructor.