William Stephen Richardson Jr.

He is preceded in death by his son, William Stephen Richardson, III

He is survived by: Linda L. Richardson, wife, and daughters; Lynda L. Richardson (Michael S. Ostrander), Karen E. Richardson, and W. Stephanie Richardson

Born in Norfolk, October 24, 1934 to William Stephen Richardson & Elizabeth Ruby Flowers

Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications (B.S.C.) from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida where he wrote for the school newspaper, The Florida Alligator, and the Gainesville Daily Sun. He also worked as a disk jockey for the school radio stations WRUF and WHBO in Tampa, FL. During his journalistic career, Steve interviewed top name country music personalities in person taping the interviews for broadcast on his daily radio shows. He was considered a Country Music “personality” around the university.

After graduation, Steve worked as a reporter, writing and shooting photographs for the Tampa Times. In 1959, he, his wife, Linda, and their daughter, Lynda, returned to Richmond to work with his father in the family business, Bill’s Barbecue, Inc. He worked full-time eventually accepting the position as president of the company.

Steve’s love of country music continued through his writing music and singing. Some of the songs he wrote were: “You Passed My Way,” and “It’s A Crying Shame,” which were picked up and published by ABCO Music Co., an affiliate of Broadcast Music Inc. Additional favorites were, “Don’t Blame the Children," and “Ain’t It Funny How Time Slips Away.” In addition, Steve was the emcee on Channel 8, WXEX-TV Richmond-Petersburg for The Country Music Show for three and a half years and had a small record company called, “Shoestring Records.”

Anyone who knew Steve, recognized his love of hunting and fishing. He fished north pole to south pole catching huge lake trout in the Northwest Territories in Canada to fly fishing for sea run brown trout in Tierra del Fuego. He loved telling the story of how, after missing his Tierra del Fuego flight, he was able to catch a ride on another 747 and had the opportunity to sit in the co-pilot’s seat during the flight!

Steve also enjoyed hunting up-land game birds, ducks and geese anywhere from North Dakota to Peru but, best of all, he loved duck hunting with his good buddies at Chestnut Grove Hunt Club along the Pamunky River.

Steve shared his love of fishing with his entire family who especially enjoyed time with him at Taylor’s Pond in Virginia and the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, Florida. Hunting partners, eldest daughter, Lynda and only son, Stephen, delighted in accompanying their dad on many upland bird and duck hunting trips.

Along the same lines, Steve owned a professional gun dog kennel operation, Shoestring Kennels, and Gun Dogs, Ltd., raising hunt and show quality Brittany spaniels. He had many show and field champions. Steve even got the whole family involved in AKC confirmation shows and at one point, took his beloved dog “Mac” into the ring himself.

Steve served on the boards and held positions with numerous charitable, civic, government, nonprofit, and professional organizations and groups such as:

Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia

Ducks Unlimited

Fly Fishers of Virginia

Metropolitan Richmond Chamber of Commerce

National Professional Journalism Society, Sigma Delta Chi

Mason’s Northside Lodge NO. 292, A.F. and A.M.

Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals

Richmond Retail Merchants Association

Rotary Club of Richmond

The Scottish Rite and ACCA Temple

Virginia Angler’s Club

Virginia Outdoor Writers

Virginia Restaurant Association President 1980 and Restauranteur of the Year 1981

Richmond Retail Merchants Society

Virginia State Chamber of Commerce

In 1962, Steve was a member of the Virginia Agricultural Leaders People to People Goodwill Delegation to the Iron Curtain Countries. In West Berlin, he photographed a church behind the Berlin Wall which became an important symbol at the time representing freedom vs. depressive communist rule. He was extremely proud of capturing this image and you can read about it in the December 1962 issue of The Virginia Farm Bureau News where his photograph was published on the cover and the story was told by Ron Nowland.

His most beloved organization was “The” Rotary Club of Richmond where he enjoyed many long-time friends and acquaintances. In 1988, Steve became President of the Club which he was very proud of and proving his devotion to Rotary he maintained 55 years of perfect attendance even if it meant wearing his business suit and tie under his duck hunting clothes to make a meeting on time! Steve was a (multi) Paul Harris Fellow many times over revealing a generous nature to what he loved.

The family would like to extend his love of The Rotary Club of Richmond by saying, “In lieu of flowers,” a donation may be made to The Rotary Club of Richmond Foundation “Activities” Fund, P.O. Box 17664, Richmond, VA 23226-7664 or a charity of your choice.

A true Renaissance man, our Dad was always behind the scenes helping friends and family with his generous and thoughtful acts of kindness.

Funeral will be private.