Education
Born in Liberty Hill, South Carolina, on September 11, 1864, to John G. Richards and Sophia Edwards Smith, he attended schools in Liberty Hill and North Carolina"s Bingham Military Institute for a short time.
Born in Liberty Hill, South Carolina, on September 11, 1864, to John G. Richards and Sophia Edwards Smith, he attended schools in Liberty Hill and North Carolina"s Bingham Military Institute for a short time.
1898: Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
1910: Appointed as the South Carolina Railroad Commissioner
1926: Elected Governor of South Carolina on his fourth attempt by winning a contested Democratic primary. The South Carolina Constitution had been amended in 1926 to give the governor a four-year term and Richards became the first South Carolina governor elected for a four-year term. His time as Governor was noted for his strict observance of Blue laws, even chastising golfers for playing on Sunday.