John N. Richards

While in Philadelphia he worked for architects G. Edwin Brumbaugh, Zantzinger, Borie & Medary and Ritter & Shay before returning to Mills in Toledo in 1932.

In 1940 he was made a principal in the firm, and in 1944 it was renamed Bellman, Gillett & Richards to recognize changes in leadership.

His associates Lawrence S. Bellman and John Gillett died in 1951 and retired in 1954, respectively, and Richards assumed control of the firm.

[1][2] Richards joined the American Institute of Architects in 1935 as a member of the Toledo chapter, and was elected a Fellow in 1955.

[3] In 1977 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts by Bowling Green State University[4] and in 1980 he was elected an associate of the National Academy of Design.