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Ronald Francis Richard (July 4, 1947 – June 9, 2023) was an American politician from the state of Missouri. A Republican, Richard served in the Missouri House of Representatives, including as Speaker of the House before being elected to the State Senate in 2010. He was the first speaker to later be elected Missouri senator in more than 100 ...
Jun 9, 2023 · Richard died on Friday at the age 75. He had been recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. Many who are currently or were in Missouri politics spent Friday praising Richard as a titan in the state legislature who held top leadership roles during tumultuous times. He was speaker of the House in the midst of the economic calamity of the late 2000s ...
- Jason Rosenbaum
- A Late Start to Politics
- Economic Development A Big Focus
- Senate Service
- Gruff Or A ‘Puppy Dog?’
Born in Kansas, Richard owned and operated bowling alleys before entering local politics. He was on the Joplin City Council and eventually became that city’s mayor before getting elected to the Missouri House in 2002. Richard had run for the state Senate in 1998, but lost in a GOP primary. He said in 2017 that loss was a blessing in disguise, since...
While he had much more power as both House speaker and Senate president pro tem, Richard said his favorite position in legislative politics was as the chairman of the House Economic Development Committee. “I thought I'd died and gone to heaven,” he said in 2017. And while he had worked his way up the political ladder through his time in local and r...
After hitting term limits in 2010, Richard successfully ran for an open Senate seat representing the Joplin area. By his own admission, he had some trouble getting acclimated to the upper chamber — but eventually played a major role in helping Joplin after a deadly tornado in 2011. “And obviously, after the Joplin tornado, we spent a tremendous amo...
One of Richard’s trademarks was his bluntness. When he was asked in 2007 if his election as speaker was a sign that southwest Missouri was solidifying its dominance in state politics, Richard replied “that is absolute B.S.” “I’ve worked with the entire state of Missouri since I’ve been elected,” Richard said at the time. “And anybody who wants to s...
- Jason Rosenbaum
Jun 9, 2023 · By The Missouri Times on June 9, 2023. Ronald Richard, the only Missourian to serve as both Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives and President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate passed away last night. Originally born in Kansas, Richard moved to Joplin when he was young with his father, the famous bowler Carl Richard, where he owned and ...
Jun 9, 2023 · Ron Richard was a life-long champion of the university and leaves a tremendous legacy at Missouri Southern.” Missouri Southern State University “Few elected officials have been a more ...
Jun 9, 2023 · Ron Richard, R-Joplin, was 75 years old. Richard started his political career in the 1990’s, where he was elected to the Joplin City Council. The Joplin bowling alley owner then served as mayor ...
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Jun 9, 2023 · Jun 9, 2023 Updated Jun 10, 2023. (KOAM) - Former Joplin mayor and Missouri State Senator Ron Richard has died. Missouri Governor Mike Parson posted a statement on his Facebook page Friday morning. "Missouri has lost a strong leader and dedicated public servant with the passing of Ron Richard," Parson posted. "Ron was one of few great men to ...
