"Dick" Richardson is an American former political scientist, holding the Burton Craig Professorship at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
[4] In addition to his many teaching awards, Richardson won the Thomas Jefferson Award in 1987, presented annually to “that member of the academic community who through personal influence and performance of duty in teaching, writing, and scholarship has best exemplified the ideals and objectives of Thomas Jefferson,” whose complex legacy includes the values of democracy, public service, and the pursuit of knowledge.
He also won The C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award in 2000 which recognizes a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill employees e for unusual, meritorious or superior contributions.
In 2001, Richardson won the UNC General Alumni Association Distinguished Service Medal.
The citation described him as "the heartbeat of academic Carolina," and noted that "he served as provost with compassion, wit, and a refreshing frankness."