John W. Richardson,
April 6, 1922 — September 18, 2010
Columbus, GA - John W. Richardson, Jr., 88, of Columbus, GA died Saturday, September 18, 2010 at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at St. Luke United Methodist Church 1104 2nd Ave. Columbus, GA 31901 with Reverend Emory Gilbert, Reverend Gilbert Ramsey, Dr. Hal Brady, and Reverend Helen Berenthien officiating. A private interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA 31907.
Mr. Richardson was born April 6, 1922 in Parrott, GA, son of the late John Walter and Eudora Williford Richardson. He was educated in the public schools in Lumpkin, GA and was a graduate of the University of Georgia in Athens.
He was called to serve with the U.S. Army during World War II and spent most of his time in the South Pacific. He remained in the Army Reserves until 1959 and attained the rank of Captain.
Following the war, he opened the Richardson's Home and Auto on Hamilton Rd. with his cousin, Leonard Richardson. The business also sold fishing and hunting equipment, which was John's expertise. He was a renowned fisherman and hunter in the area and was ready to go on a moment's notice. He was a well-known television personality and was a guest on Ridley Bell's "Sportsman's Lodge" program from 1956 to 1989. His favorite saying on the show about fishing was "They are jumping in the boat!" The Rozell Show also had him as a guest on many occasions and he did a special show with Jerry McGinnis on fishing, which has aired many times on national television. Beginning in 1990 until 2008, he was on the Monday-Friday morning show with Calvin Floyd and was best known as "Mr. John".
He was also the owner of Starmount Firestone with his partners, Robert Lindsey and Ann Eckmann, and promoted the Inertia Nutcracker invented by Columbus Doctor Heywood Turner. He and his wife, Marjorie, traveled around the country for several years promoting the nutcracker and he appeared on the national television show, "What's My Line" as a result.
Upon retirement, he had more time for the hunting fishing he loved and was able to devote more time to volunteering at St. Luke United Methodist Church. He and Marjorie became very involved with the Evangelism program and brought numerous new members into the church. They were honored for their work with the prestigious Denham Evangelism Award from the South Georgia Methodist Conference in 2002, the Exchange Club of Columbus Award "Golden Deed" in 1991 for outstanding service to the community, and several other awards from their church.
He was a member of the Columbus Lions Club and then the Muscogee Lions Club for over 50 years and he served as chaplain and tail-twister. He was an active member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and was a founding member of the Jesus Is Lord Sunday School Class.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Marjorie Haddock Richardson, his son, Walter Haddock Richardson of Tulsa, OK, two grandchildren, Jud Richardson and Libba Richardson, daughter-in-law, Margie T. Richardson all of Columbus, GA, his sister, Ruth Mathis of Florida, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1104 Second Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at St. Luke United Methodist Church 1104 2nd Ave. Columbus, GA 31901 with Reverend Emory Gilbert, Reverend Gilbert Ramsey, Dr. Hal Brady, and Reverend Helen Berenthien officiating. A private interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA 31907.
Mr. Richardson was born April 6, 1922 in Parrott, GA, son of the late John Walter and Eudora Williford Richardson. He was educated in the public schools in Lumpkin, GA and was a graduate of the University of Georgia in Athens.
He was called to serve with the U.S. Army during World War II and spent most of his time in the South Pacific. He remained in the Army Reserves until 1959 and attained the rank of Captain.
Following the war, he opened the Richardson's Home and Auto on Hamilton Rd. with his cousin, Leonard Richardson. The business also sold fishing and hunting equipment, which was John's expertise. He was a renowned fisherman and hunter in the area and was ready to go on a moment's notice. He was a well-known television personality and was a guest on Ridley Bell's "Sportsman's Lodge" program from 1956 to 1989. His favorite saying on the show about fishing was "They are jumping in the boat!" The Rozell Show also had him as a guest on many occasions and he did a special show with Jerry McGinnis on fishing, which has aired many times on national television. Beginning in 1990 until 2008, he was on the Monday-Friday morning show with Calvin Floyd and was best known as "Mr. John".
He was also the owner of Starmount Firestone with his partners, Robert Lindsey and Ann Eckmann, and promoted the Inertia Nutcracker invented by Columbus Doctor Heywood Turner. He and his wife, Marjorie, traveled around the country for several years promoting the nutcracker and he appeared on the national television show, "What's My Line" as a result.
Upon retirement, he had more time for the hunting fishing he loved and was able to devote more time to volunteering at St. Luke United Methodist Church. He and Marjorie became very involved with the Evangelism program and brought numerous new members into the church. They were honored for their work with the prestigious Denham Evangelism Award from the South Georgia Methodist Conference in 2002, the Exchange Club of Columbus Award "Golden Deed" in 1991 for outstanding service to the community, and several other awards from their church.
He was a member of the Columbus Lions Club and then the Muscogee Lions Club for over 50 years and he served as chaplain and tail-twister. He was an active member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and was a founding member of the Jesus Is Lord Sunday School Class.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Marjorie Haddock Richardson, his son, Walter Haddock Richardson of Tulsa, OK, two grandchildren, Jud Richardson and Libba Richardson, daughter-in-law, Margie T. Richardson all of Columbus, GA, his sister, Ruth Mathis of Florida, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1104 Second Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901.
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