Former Missouri Senator Ron Richard has died

MISSOURI — Former Missouri Senator and member of the MSSU Board of Governors Ron Richard passed away Friday morning.

A statement from Missouri Southern State University acknowledging Richard’s death said:

“Senator Ron Richard has dedicated his life to public service and is one of the most distinguished graduate students at the university,” said Dr. Dean Van Galen, President of Missouri Southern State University. “In recognition of his public service, including his leadership positions in the Missouri House and Senate, he was awarded the university’s first Richard M. Webster Medallion in 2016. Ron Richard was a lifelong supporter of the university and leaves a tremendous legacy in the Missouri Southern.”

Missouri Southern State University

Ron Richard lived most of his life in Joplin and attended McAuley Catholic High School and eventually MSSU.

In politics, Richard began his career in 1990 after being elected to the Joplin City Council and becoming mayor in 1994. He joined the Missouri House of Representatives in 2003, became speaker of the House of Representatives in 2009 and pro-Tem President of the Senate in 2015.

According to the State Historical Society of Missouri, Richard was the only person in the state’s history to serve as both Speaker of the House of Representatives and interim President of the Senate.

Richard was 75 years old. He is survived by his wife Patty and two children, Kara and Chad.