Colonel Hugh Forrest Richardson was born on May 17, 1921, in
Wagener, South Carolina to Ernest Levy and Emma (Garvin). He
passed away on August 27, 2015 from congestive heart failure at
Alder Center for Caring in Aldie, Va. He is preceded in death by
his wife of 51 years, Beverly Farrington Richardson, daughter of
Joseph Rider Farrington, former delegate to the US Congress from
Hawaii, President and Publisher of Honolulu Star Bulletin,
Honolulu, Hawaii and Elizabeth Pruitt Farrington.
He is survived by sons Hugh Forrest Richardson, Jr. and wife
Donna M. Richardson; Joseph Farrington Richardson; daughter
Mary Elizabeth LaPrade and husband Page L. LaPrade; grandsons
John Marshall LaPrade; Hugh Forrest Richardson, ill and wife
Gabi P. Richardson and son Peyton Moyer; Andrew Taylor
LaPrade; granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth LaPrade; great grandson
Hugh Forrest Richardson, IV; and brother-in-law John Farrington.
ass 1c onan
e o is u . He graduated with an MBA from Harvard
Business School and began the first of three assignments in the Pentagon on the Program Revenue and Analysis Staff as
Comptroller of the US Army.
~erly while an aide to President Truman in 1950 and then served as battalion Commander in the
Korean War. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College and Industrial College ofthe Armed Forces,
advancing through grades to Colonel in 1959. He was a Platoon Leader, 92nd Infantry Division, Company Commander,
3011
‘ Infantry Division, Battalion Commander, 4011
‘ Infantry Division, and Battle Group Commander. He was Special
Assistant to High Commissioner, Ryukyu Islands, Deputy Civil Administrator, Ryukyu Islands, in Okinawa, and Deputy
Chief, European Division, Plans and Policies Directorate Organization of Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1970.
He participated in six military campaigns: Korea, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe
under General GeorgeS. Patton, Jr.
Hugh’s military service provided a broad educational experience for his family as he was stationed on assignments in
Puerto Rico, Panama and Okinawa.
He was decorated with Silver Star, Legion of Merit (2 oak leaf clusters), Bronze Star (2 oak leaf clusters), and the Army
Commendation medal (2 oak leaf clusters). He was the recipient of a Certificate of Appreciation from the President,
Republic of Panama and the Lt Col Alfredo Lazaro medal from the Government of Panama.
After serving as ChiefNATO Planner on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he retired in 1970 and joined the Office of Emergency
Preparedness in the Executive Office of the United States President. In 1986 he retired for a second time and devoted his
energies to golf and volunteer activities.
His love of the game of golf kept him fit and active in retirement and he participated in match play and in tournaments on
the Army Navy Country Club golf team for many years, scoring in the 80’s while in his 80’s.
He was involved in politics and a Life Member of the Eisenhower Commission of the Republican National Committee,
travelling nationwide to special events in support of the Republican Party.
He was Senior Warden and Vestryman of St. John’s Episcopal, Chairman ofthe Christian Education Committee, St.
John’s Episcopal Church, and Vice President of the Regional Council, Episcopal Diocese ofVirginia, and the Scottish
Rite Freemasonry.
After overseas service, he became a resident in the Washington DC area in early 1960s and moved to Falcons Landing in
2004 after the death of his wife.
A memorial service was held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in McLean, VA on September 5, 2015, Interment will be at
Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Donations can be made to The Citadel Foundation Scholarship Fund, The
Citadel, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.
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