Ira Richardson

Ira Richardson (1871-October 6, 1958) was a president of Northwest Missouri State University and founding president of Adams State College.

Early life

Richardson was a native of northern Missouri and received a degree from Central Methodist University in 1897.

He received two masters degrees from Columbia University.^[1]

When he was a young boy, he lost his father to an alcohol related horse accident. ^[2]

Northwest Missouri

He was president at Northwest from 1913 to 1921.

Highlights during his tenure at the school:^[3]

• The school got its nickname of Bearcats in 1916
• The Tower yearbook first publication in 1917
• First degree class graduates in 1917
• Tornado hits the Administration building on March 15, 1919

Adams State College

He served as Adams president from its founding in 1925 until 1950. Highlights of his stay:^[4]

• Richardson Hall (named for him was built)
• He was one of three faculty on the first semester in 1925
• Green and white were adopted as school colors in 1926
• Adams State Normal School name change Adams State Teachers College in 1930
• President’s home and faculty apartments (Casa del Sol) constructed in 1929
• Casa Bonita and Kit Carson Hall dorms opened in 1936
• Rex Activity Center opened in 1939
• It began offering graduate classes in 1944
• When he retired enrollment was 349 in 1950.

References