In Memoriam: Howard N. Richards, 1934–2015
The Briscoe Center for American History mourns the death of Howard N. Richards, a former member of the University of Texas Board of Regents and the Briscoe Center’s Advisory Council. Richards died on April 27, 2015.
“Howard Richards was crucial to the effort that established the Briscoe Center as an independent unit of the University,” said Don Carleton, executive director of the center. “He was absolutely instrumental to the creation of our Advisory Council and played a key role in establishing our relationship with Dolph Briscoe. Howard was a true friend to the center and to me. He will be missed.”
Richards, who graduated from the University of Texas in 1960, was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Dolph Briscoe in 1979. In addition to his tenure on the Briscoe Center’s Advisory Council, he devoted himself to other volunteer activities connected with the University, including the Men’s Athletic Council, the Texas Marine Science Advisory Council, the Chancellor’s Council, and the M. D. Anderson Visitor’s Center Advisory Board.
Richards was born in Brownsville, Texas, on April 3, 1934. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 through 1958. An accomplished attorney, Richards was a staff member for Governor Briscoe from 1973 to 1975, and again in 1978. He had an extensive legal career, including service as a briefing attorney for Texas Supreme Court Judges Ruel S. Walker and James R. Norvell. He was an associate in the law offices of W. C. Ross Jr., Beaumont; an associate with Locke, Purnell, Boren, Laney & Neely, Dallas; a partner with Ross, McLemore, Collie & Richards, Beaumont; a partner with O’Brien & Richards, Beaumont; managing partner for Jenkins & Gilchrist, Austin; a partner with the firm of Howard N. Richards, Austin; a partner with DeLeon, Boggins & Richards, Austin; and was of counsel for Maroney, Crowley, Bankston, Richardson & Hill, L.L.P. Austin.
