Information is enclosed concerning my husband, O.E. Richardson, who taught at Rison School from 1927 to 1942; he died in 1996. He started all sports at Rison, Manual Training, and as Assistant Scout Master. He did much work with the Scouts, taking them to the Chicago Fair.

We married in 1933. We have a daughter, Joan, and she has a family. I have enclosed a picture of the five generations.

Dallas Mills built a two-story building at the end of Oakwood Avenue, two houses from me, which served as our Kindergarten. At 6, we were allowed to attend school across the street from my home, but set back in trees. There was a delay until November. In the third grade, we moved down to the new building called Rison School and were so proud to do so. This was 1921. There, Domestic Science was offered, sports were started for both boys and girls, a music teacher was provided to help with singing, and one could take elocution for a fee. I took it.

At first, you could not graduate from Rison, but had to transfer to Huntsville High, but no fee was charged, because there was no grade at Rison available. When I went to Huntsville High in 1928, I had to pay a fee, because by then, Rison had all grades. I only went one year, my last one. The typing and shorthand that I took there was a big help career-wise. I received my B.S. from the University of AL and taught school or worked in offices for 43 years.

Dallas Mills built the Y.M.C.A. and paid the salaries of its leaders also. They helped to pay for the building of the churches.

In my junior year at Rison, I was president of the class, and we raised the money, and held the Junior-Senior Banquet. An executive from the Dallas Mills was invited, and he attended and spoke.

Rison grew and flourished under the supervision of Principal C.V. Fain, and became a wonderful school in all aspects. There were many outstanding graduates.

Much later, I was saddened by the demolition of the Rison building, but progress goes on.

I still have several relatives in Huntsville, but I am the last of eight siblings. My mother, Pearl Englebert, was President of the PTA at Rison one year. Mr. Fain wrote her the most complimentary letter, which I have, and value. She was a wonderful mother, and my father was such a good father. He was Overseer of the cloth room in Dallas Mills. He was a great church worker.

Five Generations of the Richardson Family (Joan Richardson Moore's husband, Irby, took picture)

*O.E. Richardson, great grandfather of Cayton; Ruth Richardson, great grandmother of Cayton; Richie Moore, grandfather of Cayton; Christopher Moore, father of Cayton; Cayton Moore

*At the time of Cayton's birth, Rich had died, but Irby knew how to insert his picture.
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Ruth Richardson's pre-90th Birthday Celebration on 6/21/03
(My birthday was next day - 6/22/13)

Left to right: Ruth, Joan Moore, Irby Moore, J.W. Richardson (Richie's brother - a retired missionary), Matthew Richardson (J.W.'s grandson), Richie Moore, Irby Moore III
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