Detroit Free Press article following his passing.
Richmond, a native of Lynch, Kentucky, and graduate of Detroit Eastern HS, received three letters for football in 1950, 1951, and 1952, and freshman numerals for football and basketball at Wayne University in 1949-50. In a time when players were limited to a three-year varsity career, and no Tartar gridiron team played more than eight games a season, Richmond, a right halfback, set or tied 17 career, season, and game individual records for rushing, passing, total offense, all-purpose and kickoff returns. He emerged as one of Wayne's most prolific scorers at the time in WSU football history, leading all four teams in scoring. In his senior season, Richmond had one of his greatest days ever in a Wayne uniform, scoring four touchdowns against Valparaiso in a 44-6 WU win. In all, Richmond set or tied nine career, six season and two game records. In 1951, a season many Tartar fans feel was the toughest-ever in the University's history, with Wayne State playing Iowa State, a Johnny Unitas-led Louisville, Arizona State, Bradley, and Michigan State, Richmond set a season record for net yards rushing at 790, and rushing attempts at 165. In Wayne's 62-9 victory over Omaha that year, he had touchdown carries of 75-and 36-yards, setting a new game record of 194 net rushing yards. He led the 1951 squad with 42 points on seven touchdowns, and was named Most Valuable Player, as the Tartars finished with a 5-4 record. In 1952, Richmond led in scoring with 79 points on 13 touchdowns and one-point-after run. His 13 TDs were a new single season mark. Though hurt for the first four games in 1950, his sophomore year, Richmond set single season records for kickoff returns at 16 and kickoff return yardage at 354. Richmond's career records were as follows: rushing attempts, 422; rushing yardage, 2010; total offense plays, 425; total offense yards, 2020; kickoff returns, 31; kickoff return yardage, 699; all-purpose yardage, 3691; and touchdowns scored, 27. At guard and forward on the 1949-50 basketball squads, Richmond finished third in scoring with 46 points. After concluding his playing career at Wayne, Richmond signed a contract with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1953, and then played two exhibition games for the Green Bay Packers, also that same season. In 1954 he played football for Sarnia (Ontario) in the Ontario Rugby Football Union. Richmond entered the Detroit School System upon graduating with his Bachelor's of Physical Education in 1954. He also holds a Master's in Special Education from Michigan, granted in 1962. He has coached and taught at several Detroit high schools, including Cass Tech, Northwestern, Kettering, and Mackenzie. Head coach of football for Mackenzie from 1969 to 1971, he won either a PSL or state district titles all three seasons. He became Mackenzie's varsity basketball coach in 1972. Richmond's 1979 team won the Michigan Class A State Championship, and several of his teams have won PSL championships, and state district and regional titles. Richmond has coached former college basketball stars such as Dorie Murrey of University of Detroit, who went on to play with the NBA's Baltimore Bullets, Keith Smith of Michigan, Gerald Sims of Nevada-Las Vegas, Michael Grady of Nevada-Reno, and Ted McCree of Wayne State. He also coached baseball for one season at Mackenzie, winning the 1975 PSL title. Richmond and his wife Velva, reside in Detroit, and have two daughters, Lisa and Valerie.
