Harold D. Richardson (1902 – March 2, 1993) was the acting president of Arizona State University (ASU) from December 1959 to the fall of 1960.

He also served as ASU's academic vice president and held jobs in various school systems in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Richardson was born on a farm in the Town of Wyoming, Wisconsin, and initially attended a one-room country school.

[1] The family moved to Spring Green for high school, and after his graduation, Richardson worked at a factory in Freeport, Illinois.

[1] On December 23, 1959, Gammage's sudden death obligated Richardson to become the school's acting president, effective the next day.