Jackson State icon Willie Richardson dies
Former Jackson State standouts Eddie Payton and Harold Jackson both played in the NFL. They both credit former Tigers receiver Willie Richardson for helping them reach those heights.
Richardson, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003, died of natural causes on Monday, according to Sharon-Grisham Stewart, Hinds County chief medical examiner/coroner.
With Richardson's death at age 76, JSU not only lost a legendary wide receiver, but also a pioneer.
"When they were recruiting me, there wasn't a lot of (Jackson State) guys going into the NFL then," said Payton, the current Tigers golf coach. "Willie was one of the first group (to go pro) ... being motivated to follow in Willie's footsteps and do the same thing he and his family had been able to do at Jackson State led me here."
Funeral arrangements for Willie Richardson announced
Said Jackson, who also played receiver: "Willie was one of those pioneer guys. He's the one that paved the way for me. He was the one most of the kids over there looked up to."
Richardson was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the seventh round of the 1963 NFL draft. He played nine seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Baltimore Colts, and appeared in Super Bowl III. Richardson was first-team All Pro in '67 and made the Pro Bowl in '67 and '68.
He finished his professional career with 195 receptions for 2,950 yards and 25 touchdowns. Richardson, who played at JSU from 1959-63, was inducted into the Jackson State Hall of Fame in '78 and into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame a year later.
"He could do anything with the ball (as a player). Last time I played golf with him he shot even par at age 75. Everything he did athletically was smooth. He made everything look easy," Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum historian Rick Cleveland said. "He always had a kind word for everybody. Last time I saw him was at the press conference to name Fred McNair the head coach at Alcorn (last week). Here's a Jackson State guy showing up for the head coach at the rival school and he did it just because he said so many times in life people don't get what they deserve. He wanted to be there for Fred because he was getting what he long deserved. He was just a kind guy."
Most recently, Richardson hosted an hour-long weekly radio show on ESPN The Zone 105.9. He was also the color analyst for JSU's football broadcasts on the radio. He's spent the past few years working with Tigers' play-by-play man Rob Jay, general manager of JSU TV and radio.
"He was my best friend and the best at what he did," Jay said. "We worked well together and had a chemistry like no other. He will never be replaced."
During the football season, Richardson also hosted the JSU football coach's call-in show. He spent the better part of the past two seasons with Jackson, who was the Tigers coach in 2014 and some of 2015, on that show.
"The year I had with him, working over there at Jackson State doing the show and stuff, I learned a lot from Willie," Jackson said. "He's one of those fiery guys. He always kept you laughing and kept you happy. He's going to be really missed."
Richardson also had a strong love for golf. He'll be remembered for his love for the Tigers, though.
"He was a great guy on and off the field. First of all, he was an icon at the university. He was one of those guys that when the university was trying to recruit people, they'd bring up Willie and the rest of his family," Payton said. "I think that his loyalty and what he gave to the university during his lifetime will never be able to be measured in dollars and cents. The university will miss him, the community will miss him and as a friend, I will miss him."
Richardson's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson.
Contact Antonio Morales at amorales2@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @AntonioCMorales on Twitter.