MILT THOMAS

Danforth (Dan) Kidd Richardson, who died this past December 17 at the age of 95, left behind more than a family, countless friends and a business – he left a legacy. When people today talk about Keeping Vero Vero, Richardson helped shape the Vero we want to keep.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Richardson moved to Vero Beach with his wife and former college sweetheart, Marjorie Hopwood, in 1946 after serving in the Army. His long career in citrus began working in his father-in-law’s grove and then later running Gracewood Fruit Company with his sons-in-law. Gracewood became synonymous with Indian River citrus and grew successfully over the years under Richardson’s guidance. He also branched out into cattle ranching, real estate and the restaurant business. He defined the term “entrepreneur.” He was always involved with the political side of his business. Richardson served for nine years as a member of the Florida Citrus Commission, half that time as chairman. He was also past president of the Indian River Citrus League and Florida Production Managers Association.

He sold Gracewood in 2006, but may be best known for all his non-business activities. He helped found and serve on a number of community organizations including the United Way (for which he was co-founding chairman when it was the United Fund), Rotary Club, Dollars for Scholars (now called Scholarship Foundation, co-founded by Richardson in 1964), Vero Beach Museum of Art Foundation, Indian River State College ( the Richardson Center, built in 2001, houses the college’s business school), the Environmental Learning Center, Riverside Theatre, Indian River Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Gifford Youth Activities Center, which he also co-founded in 1998. He was a past member and chairman of the Indian River County School Board in the 1960s, during the period of racial integration. He was able to bring people together regardless of race and to move forward when others had failed. Even after integration of the school system occurred, he stayed involved with making life better in the minority community.

His involvement with IRSC goes back to its beginning in 1960. It was known as Indian River Junior College at the time, then Indian River Community College, and he even made one of the first contributions to the IRCC Foundation.

Richardson was the original campaign chair for Riverside Theatre and co-chair for the Center for the Arts (now the Vero Beach Museum of Art). In addition to his involvement with the above organizations, he was very active in the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce.

Community involvement has continued through his daughters.  Sandy Kahle, wife of George, founded Maitland Farm Preschool and Childcare Resources of Indian River. Her son, Dolph, has served on the St. Edward’s School board of trustees. His two other daughters, Susan Hopkins and Nancy Luther, have also been involved with the community along with their husbands, Carter and John.

In terms of philanthropy, Richardson gifted money to many worthwhile causes and projects. He provided  seed money to establish the VNA, $600,000 towards building the Richardson Center at the IRSC Mueller Center campus, he contributed regularly to the building program at Community Church, where he also taught a high school age Sunday school class for many years.

Always among the first to donate to a worthy cause, Richardson took part in early fundraising campaigns involving the Center for the Arts, Riverside Theatre and Indian River Memorial Hospital (now Indian River Medical Center). Along with Alma Lee Loy and Marian Block, mother of attorney Sam Block, Richardson established the Education Foundation of Indian River County in 1991 to provide funding for education programs. He never stopped with his gift, always becoming involved with the recipient for years afterward. He helped fund construction of the Science Center on Indian River Community College’s main campus in Fort Pierce.

He established or was named in awards, especially those to do with education, which was of great importance to him. The Gifford Youth Activities Center offers the Dan K. Richardson Humanitarian Award annually in his honor. He was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 1992. The IRSC Foundation and others have established the Dan K. Richardson Entrepreneurship Program to recognize leading entrepreneurial business people in our community. He received its first award.

John Schumann, former publisher of the Press Journal and lifetime resident of Indian River County, first came to know Richardson through Rotary. “We were both in the club and then I served on the United Fund board when he headed it. Dan was an excellent leader, always willing to listen to other points of view and build a consensus. He provided the consummate example of philanthropy and community service.”

Richardson was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie, who passed away in 2009 after 66 years of marriage.

Above all, Richardson was a devoted family man and a gentleman, whose kindness and encouragement extended into his business, community and social dealings. Current and future generations of Vero Beach and Indian River County residents will certainly benefit from his many good deeds.