1973 Wrestling Team
On Friday and Saturday, January 6 and 7, 2023, the Richardson Memorial Wrestling Tournament will once again be hosted at Box Elder High School. The tournament, known by wrestlers around the state as “The Richardson,” will be celebrating its 50th year anniversary.
The tournament is named after Oscar Richardson, who tragically drowned with his daughter, Sherry, during a family outing on June 19, 1973 at Willard Bay, Utah. Richardson saw his 11 year-old daughter, Sherry, struggling as she was swimming to a floating raft. He swam out to save her and they both drowned as the family watched from the shore. Richardson left behind his wife, two daughters and four sons.
At the time of the drowning, Richardson was the Box Elder High School Wrestling coach and was in the process of turning the wrestling program into one of the most respected teams in the state of Utah and surrounding areas. He was so beloved by the wrestling team and the community that the following wrestling season, the wrestling boosters and team founded the Richardson Memorial Wrestling Tournament during the 1973-74 season and all the proceeds of the tournament were donated to the Richardson family. The tournament was so successful that it was continued and has become one of the most revered tournaments in the state of Utah.
This season marks the 50th anniversary of the tournament and the Richardson family is celebrating the legacy by attending this year’s tournament. Barbara Richardson Phillips, Oscar’s widow, will be in attendance with her six children, their spouses, and many of their 31 grandchildren and 54 great grandchildren. The family will be honored before the tournament’s championship round on Saturday afternoon. (Press release written by Bryon Richardson)
Honorable Mention: The wrestlers will all remember a very special person we want to honor because she had such a profound impact on the program: Aunt Joyce (Joyce Thompson). She was always there encouraging the team, bringing them goodies, etc. She was their biggest fan. She had two sons who wrestled, Rick and Ronnie. Barbara says that when Oscar died, Joyce was a big support to her and even brought her cake and ice cream on her birthday a few weeks after the accident. Bryon says that even 15 years later, she was a great encouragement to him during his years on the wrestling team. Thank you Aunt Joyce!
See below to learn more about the team he left behind and how they helped his young family after he passed away.
“Coach Richardson, as we knew him around the wrestling bench, was such a good coach and he proved that in the three years he coached at Box Elder. His first year was discouraging as it is for many coaches but his determination won over as I quote him saying, “with this bright and talented group of sophomores and juniors, I wouldn’t be surprised that the next two years we will be one of the toughest teams in the state.” And the records show that they were.
When he came to Box Elder wrestling was labeled a minor sport, but Coach made it come alive and now it is the fastest-growing sport we have. Last year we had an 8-1 record and we all felt we should have had the trophy right then. But it didn’t come that year. It still didn’t stop Coach, though. His first words about wrestling the next year were, “we’re tough”. And they went all the way this year and took first in Region 1 with a 5-1 mark.”
-TED DEE PAYNE
From Barbara, Oscar’s wife:
Wrestling was such a big part of our family’s life. We attended every match. “When I took the kids to the wrestling matches, as soon as I got there someone took Bryon and Trevor (foster child). I never saw them until ready to come home. Kim and Sue were both score keepers.
After Oscar’s death the wrestlers were so good to us. When they had the graveside service all the wrestlers were there wearing their Letterman’s jackets. Blaine Olsen from the funeral home said that was the largest funeral he had ever done. More wrestlers were there from other schools.
After the accident Blaine Allen, Ronnie Thompson, Rick Jepson were sitting on the front step waiting for us to come home. Blaine Allen did my irrigation turn for me all summer. I think I had a 4:00 a.m. and one later at night. He always was there to look after us.
Kevin Woodruff and his father were at our house almost every night to visit for several weeks after the accident.
The first Christmas most of them brought lots of goodies, a case of oranges, popcorn balls, etc.
The first memorial, Principal Nichols presented our family with a large portrait of Oscar. Principal Nichols introduced the memorial in memory of Oscar. They gave our family all of the monies taken in from that first memorial.” Our family will never forget the kindness shown to us by the wrestling team and the community after Oscar’s and Sherry’s deaths.