Veteran of the Year

Davis A. Richards, III

Davis A. Richards, III will be recognized for his service in the United States Navy Reserves at Holmes Community College homecoming on October 31 in Goodman.

Richards graduated from Holmes in 1963 where he lettered in baseball. After Holmes, he transferred to  Mississippi State where he earned a B.S. in general business.

Later, Richards returned to school, earning a Master of Business Administration in 1975 and a Master of Hospital Administration in 1978 from Mississippi College.

Richards made his career in the medical field as a hospital administrator, mostly in the metro area of Jackson. He served as president and CEO of River Oaks Hospital in Flowood; prior to that he was vice president and COO at River Oaks.

Richards’ other experience in administration includes CEO at Rankin Medical Center in Brandon, CEO at Madison County Medical Center, executive vice president of the Mississippi Hospital Association, assistant executive director of the Mississippi State Medical Association and associate administrator at Singing River Health System in Pascagoula.

As far as Richards’’ military experience, he has 24 years of military service training and is retired as a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Among awards he received were the Navy Achievement Medal, the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal, Nations Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

Now Richards is retired and lives in Starkville with his wife Mary Ann. Together they have three children (Anna, Janet and Eddie) and