Senate 1927-45 (District 4)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election
Counties Served: Olmsted
Rochester High School; Secondary; GraduateUniversity of Minnesota, Law Department; Law Degree;
Spouse: Single Children: Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
According to the Minnesota Historical Society, William B. Richardson served as "acting lieutenant governor" from August 24, 1936 to January 1, 1937. Richardson was never sworn in as lieutenant governor. He was president pro tem of the Senate and became acting lieutenant governor when Governor Floyd B. Olson died and Lt. Governor Hjalmar Petersen became governor. Various newspaper articles from that time period refer to Richardson as "president of the state senate and prospective lieutenant governor" (August 24, 1936); "senate president" and "president pro tem" in the same article (August 24, 1936); "Acting Lieutenant Governor" (December 18, 1936); and as presiding over the senate as "Lieutenant Governor William B. Richardson" (December 18, 1936). When the Senate convened for the extra session on December 17, 1936, it was called to order by the "President of the Senate, Mr. William B. Richardson." The table of contents for the extra session lists William B. Richardson as "President Pro Tempore." Normally, a "Lieutenant Governor" is listed in addition to the "President Pro Tempore." William B. Richardson voted as a member of the senate throughout this extra session.The following year, on the first day of session in 1937, the Journal of the Senate states: "Due to illness, the Lieutenant-Governor-Elect Gottfried [sic] Lindsten was unable to assume the duties of his office." Senator William B. Richardson (President Pro Tem) was nominated and elected to "temporarily preside." Sen. Richardson apparently presided for the entire session. Sen. Richardson is referred to as President (without "Pro Tem") of the senate in some places in the 1937 Journal of the Senate.He was a member of the Republican Party.