GREENWOOD
William Rigby Richards, 81, passed away Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at his home in Greenwood.
Born on March 23, 1935, in Boston, Massachusetts, to the late William Rigby and Bessie Alice Richards, he was a 1954 graduate of Southport High School and a 1958 graduate of Butler University.
Bill attended Indiana University School of Law, receiving his LLB in 1961 and Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1964.
From 1958 to 1962, as a student in law school, he was a loan closing officer, supervisor of the escrow department and title attorney for Union Title Company, now known as Ticor Title Insurance Company.
Upon graduation from law school in 1961, he has been working in the private practice of law for more than 45 years, with his principle practice being in real estate, including loan closing for commercial and residential and mortgage foreclosures. He handled approximately 150 foreclosure cases per year for various lenders and tax sale litigation.
From 1962 to 1966, he served as deputy prosecutor for the 19th Judicial District in Marion County.
He was a part-time deputy and assistant corporation counsel for Marion County, from 1968 to 1976. He primarily worked in matters related to real estate and worked for Marion County and the City of Indianapolis, also known as county attorney.
He was a mediator for settlement in the Marion County Court system for nine years. He was an agent for and Treasurer of National Attorney’s Title Assurance Fund, Inc.
He was also engaged in private practice of law only and since 1976 incorporated under the name of William R. Richards, P.C.
The following is a list of Representative Publications:
“Mortgage Foreclosures in Indiana”, Continuing Legal Ed. 1988; “ Tax Sales in Indiana”, 1989 update 1990-2006, “Rights and Remedies of an Indiana Creditor in the ’80’s”, 1987, “Mortgage Foreclosures in Indiana”; Continuing Legal Education 1993.
In addition thereto, he has been a frequent lecturer at legal seminars on Real Estate and Bankruptcies and to Indianapolis Legal Secretaries; Salvation Army on issues of the homeless, as well as the various bar and civic groups in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area.
Bill was active in the following organizations: American Legal & Financial Network, American Bar Association, American Association of Justice (July 31, 1973); Commercial Law League of America, Florida Bar Association ( July 26, 1976 to present), Indiana State Bar Association, Indianapolis Bar Association (Martindale and Hubbell Rating, A.V. High Rating).
He represented the following: Mid-Atlantic, The Bureau, Heritage Acceptance, Mooring Tax Asset Group; BB & T Bank, Tax Ease Investment, Harvest Credit Management, Clark Property Tax Investments.
An active member of the Greenwood Sertoma and Jaycees and the Millersville Masonic Lodge No. 126 F & AM, Bill was awarded the Kentucky Colonel honor. Bill was a coin collector and enjoyed his basset hounds and horse racing.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Elaine K. (Chitwood) Richards; two sons, William Roger Richards and Scott (Mary) Rigby Richards; stepdaughters, Bessie J. Ooten, Brenda A. English and Cristina K. English; grandchildren, Leslie Atkins, Nicholas Ooten, Ryan Ooten and Alex Moore; great-grandchildren, Shelby Carlton, Ethan Carlton, Evan Atkins and Charlee Ooten; former spouse, Judith Richards; siblings, Thomas E. Richards and Ann Marie Westerfield.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at G.H. Herrmann Greenwood Funeral Home at The Gardens at Olive Branch, 1605 S. State Road 135, with the Masonic Service starting at 1 p.m. immediately followed by the funeral service. He will be laid to rest at The Gardens at Olive Branch Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Southport High School Scholarship Fund.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.ghherrmann.com.
