Richardson Inductee Into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

John Richardson, a 1987 graduate of Miller High School, will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on January 26, at 5 p.m. at University Plaza Hotel in Springfield Missouri. Two receptions, one at 11 a.m. at the Hall and one at 4 p.m., are also planned.

The Class of 2020 includes 15 sports figures and teams including Ned Yost, former Kansas City Royals manager; Terry Pendleton, St Louis Cardinals player; and Derrick Johnson, former Kansas City Chiefs football player.

Richardson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Richardson of Miller and was one of the best all around athletes at Miller High School, playing football, basketball and track. In track, he took part in the long jump, high jump, shotput and discus. He won state titles in the discus and dominated area track meets in Greenfield, Stockton and Pierce City. He took up throwing the javelin in 1985 and joined a AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) track club in Joplin. Missouri did not have the javelin in state play. He took part in AAU track meets around the country setting records in javelin throwing in his age groups.

In April of 1987, he chose to continue his track career at the University of Tennessee (UT), choosing UT over the University of Arkansas and the University of Texas. He helped UT win the NCAA National Track title in 1991 and set at UT record in the javelin at 254 feet. He was inducted into the UT Track Wall of Fame in 1991. He took part in the trials of the U.S. Olympic team but due to an injury failed to qualify. His 1987 Miller track jersey is retired at Miller High School.

These days, Richardson is vice president of sales at Ozarks Coca-Cola /Dr. Pepper Bottling Company in Springfield. His son, Preston, was the Class 1 State Golf Champion and will play college golf at Western Carolina University in the fall of 2020.  Preston currently plays basketball for the Miller Cardinals and sister, Peyton, plays basketball for the Lady Cardinals.

For more information on attending the induction on January 26, go the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame website, www.mosportshalloffame.com.