Rep. Mark L. Richardson, a Republican, represents part of Butler County (District 154) in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Elected to his first term in 1990, Rep. Richardson was re-elected in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 200.
Since 1993, Rep. Richardson has served on the Governor's Standing Committee on Job Training and Work Force Readiness. In 1994, he was appointed to the state Building Code Committee. He serves on the board of directors for the Missouri First Vote Program and on the Secretary of State's Council on Library Development. He was a delegate in 1992 for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) to Austria and Hungary and in 1993 served on the ACYPL Task Force to the Pacific Mantle Countries of Singapore, Thailand and South Korea. He is an alumnus of the University of Virginia’s program for emerging political leaders.
In addition to his legislative duties, Rep. Richardson is an attorney with the law firm of Richardson and Gresham. He served as the city attorney for Poplar Bluff (1984-86), the assistant prosecuting attorney for Butler County (1980-86) and president of the Butler County Bar Association (1988-89).
Rep. Richardson is the scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop #166 and an elder and board member of First Christian Church of Poplar Bluff. He is a member of the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. He has served as president of the board of Local Shelter Workshop, March of Dimes and the Poplar Bluff High School task force on drug abuse. He is chairman of the board of Lucy Lee Hospital.
A 1970 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School, Rep. Richardson received a bachelor of arts degree in political science and history and a master's degree in psychology from Southeast Missouri State University. In 1980 he received the degree of juris doctorate from Memphis State University School of Law.
In 1990, Rep. Richardson was the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Award of Merit and in 1993 received Scouting's highest honor, the "Silver Beaver" award. Other awards include the 1994 National Federation of Independent Business, Guardian of Small Business award; the 1995 Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Spirit of Enterprise award; the Missouri Hospital Association, Distinguished Legislative Service award; the 1996 Voice of Missouri Business award from Associated Industries of Missouri; the 1996 Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture award; the 1996 Distinguished Legislator award from the Missouri Community College Association; the 1996 Outstanding Legislator award from the Missouri Judicial Conference and the 1997 Legislator of the Year award. In 1981, he was named one of America's Outstanding Young Men.
Born March 19, 1952, in Poplar Bluff, Rep. Richardson has been a life long resident of Butler County and currently resides there with his wife Kathy. They have three children: Todd, Chris, and Megan.