John Thomas Richardson, III
John Thomas Richardson, III, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on December 22, 2023, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 85.
Born on June 22, 1938, in Monroe, Tom grew up in Ruston, and graduated from Ruston High School. In 1961, he earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (now Louisiana Tech University), where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, U.S. Air Force ROTC and Pi Kappa Alpha.
In 1961, he began three years of Active Duty, as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Air Force at Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, followed by three years in the Ready Reserve.
In 1965, he received a Master’s Degree in Industrial Hygiene Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, on a Fellowship from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
In 1965, he moved back to Ruston to work at JT Richardson Company, and worked with his father and brothers, building roads across Louisiana.
In 1983, he went to work for Jensen Construction Company and, later, for The Rasmussen Group in Des Moines, Iowa, building bridges in the Midwest and South.
He was a PE (Professional Engineer) and a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and the AACEI (American Association of Cost Engineers International).
He was an Elder, Sunday school teacher and member of the Pulpit Nominating Committee at the First Presbyterian Church in Ruston and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. He was also a Youth Group leader for 12 years in Ruston.
Tom was a voracious reader and never stopped enjoying The New Yorker, Harper’s and The Atlantic Monthly. In the eyes of his friends and family, there was no subject on which he couldn’t provide valuable perspective and insight. He was also the best partner imaginable for a festive round of Trivial Pursuit.
Tom loved sailing with his family and teaching John and Edward to sail on his boats on Lake Claiborne. He had an enduring appreciation for live music and his eclectic music library included favorites that ranged from Jerry Jeff Walker to Gerry Mulligan, Bach to Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck to Willie Nelson, Peter, Paul and Mary to Lyle Lovett, and Bob Dylan to Cristina Vane.
Tom loved Mary Elizabeth from the time they met at a church youth council meeting in Monroe when they were both teenagers. They created a wonderful life and built a home that was a hub for their two sons and all of their friends and extended families.
Tom had a very special relationship with, and a reverence for, Mary Elizabeth’s mother, Lucy, who shared countless holiday trips, meals, sporting events and good times with the entire family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Thomas Richardson, Jr. and Laura Louise Guess Richardson; his step-mother, Louise Rhodes Richardson; his infant daughter, Mary Thomas Richardson; his brother and sisterin- law, Bruce and Lynne Richardson; and his niece, Laura Claire Richardson.
He is survived by his sons, John Harrell Richardson (Melanie) of Baton Rouge, and Edward Webster Richardson (Sarah) of Newport, Rhode Island; the mother of his sons, Mary Elizabeth Richardson; and grandchildren, Jesse Benjamine James, Grace Eliza Richardson, and Lucy Jean Richardson.
He is also survived by his brother and sister- in- law, Ralph and Ann Richardson; his nieces and nephews, Alicia McCampbell, Dr. Rachel White, Samuel Richardson, David Richardson ( Ashley), and Dr. Stephen Richardson (Candace); his first cousin, Bobbie Ruth Lacour; and numerous great- nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Ruston on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 3 p.m., followed by visitation and a reception at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Ruston, 212 N. Bonner, Ruston, LA, 71270 or The Preservation Hall Foundation ( preshallfoundation. org).
