William Rowland Richardson was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu, China, on 25 March 1929, to missionary parents.

In 1974 he served as commander of the 193rd Infantry Brigade in the Panama Canal Zone from December 1974 to June 1977.

His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Tong II Medal.

[1] In February 2007 he was named to the board of trustees of the Command and General Staff College Foundation.

[2] He also serves on the board of advisors of the Code of Support Foundation, a nonprofit military services organization.