County mourns loss of Commissioner Rick Richardson

On Monday morning officials and employees of Carter County government were saddened to hear of the passing of Commissioner Rick Richardson.

Commissioner Richardson was elected in 2018 to represent the county’s 8^th District, which includes the Harold McCormick and High School Precincts. As a member of the County Commission, Mr. Richardson served as Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee as well as a member on the Financial Management, Rules and Bylaws, Health and Welfare, and Law Enforcement Committees.

“I am very saddened to hear about the passing of Commissioner Rick Richardson,” Carter County Mayor Rusty Barnett said. “He was a dedicated commissioner who represented his constituents with honor and integrity. He will be greatly missed by his fellow commissioners and the county’s elected officials.”

Below is the obituary for Commissioner Richardson.

Rick Quinton Richardson

Rick Quinton Richardson, of Elizabethton, left all pain and suffering behind and went to live with his Lord on the morning of April 22, 2019.
Those left behind to cherish his memory include his two children, Keely Richardson Goodwin of Kingsport, and Cory Richardson of Elizabethton; his mother, Darlene Smith of Elizabethton; his two precious granddaughters, Jovie and Lindy Goodwin; and several special cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Quinton Richardson, and his only brother, Bill Richardson.
Rick Richardson was a devout Christian and a faithful and lifelong member of Borderview Christian Church, where he served as a deacon for over 20 years.
Rick was born and raised in Elizabethton where he led a life of service and leadership. A 1973 graduate of Elizabethton High School, he served his school as student body president.
He graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1978 with a B.S. degree in Journalism and started his career at the Johnson City Press in 1979 where he worked in advertising and multi media sales until his retirement in 2014.
Rick was elected to the Carter County Commission in 2018 to serve the 8th District (Harold McCormick and High School precincts), and he was the chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee which has oversight of the county’s facilities, as well as a member of the Financial Management, Health & Welfare, Law Enforcement, and Rules & Bylaws Committees.
Rick’s name was synonymous with Little League in Carter County, as he coached hundreds of youngsters for more than 20 years in the Elizabethton National Little League and later, the Cal Ripkin League. He also served as the president of the League. He served on the Elizabethton Twins Commission for years and just named to the Elizabethton Twins Stadium Task Force.
He also coached youth basketball at the Boys & Girls Club Elizabethton/Carter County for many years.
Rick was an avid gardener and rose grower, and was the founder and first president of the Watauga Valley Rose Society. He also served as a consulting rosarian for the American Rose Society for many years.
Finally, Rick was a passionate University of Tennessee Vol fan who attended as many UT football and basketball games as possible to root for his beloved Big Orange. For that reason, his family encourages those attending visitation and/or services for him to honor his love of the Vols by wearing Tennessee orange.
Rick Richardson’s life will be celebrated at Memorial Funeral Chapel, 212 North Main Street, Elizabethton, Tenn., on Wednesday, April 24, with Brother Scott Fisher, Senior Minister at Borderview Christian Church, and Randy Carrier, minister, officiating. Visitation for family and friends at Memorial will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday followed by a Celebration of Life service at 7 p.m. Graveside services will be conducted at Happy Valley Memorial Park, 2708 Elizabethton Highway, on Thursday, April 25, at 11 a.m. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Thursday, will be Brother Randy Carrier, Leonard Febuary, Ray Don Markland, Scott Reynolds, Matt Fisher, Joel Norris, Jody Crowe, Raymond Morton, Jordan Hinshaw, Travis Lowe, Justin Wandell and Sage Richardson. Honorary pallbearers include Tony Bowers, Jerry Bowers, the Carter County Commission and the Borderview Christian Church family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Rick’s memory be honored with a donation to the Boys & Girls Club Elizabethton/Carter County, 104 Hudson Drive, Elizabethton, TN 37643 or to Borderview Christian Church, 1338 Bristol Highway, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Thursday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Richardson family.