Remembering Chris Richardson

On February 24, 2021, board member and friend Chris Richardson passed away. Chris joined the SPSCC Foundation board in 2018 and was very actively engaged in the mission of providing support to all students. He recently worked to set up a memorial scholarship for his late wife, Denise Best. In establishing the scholarship, Chris wrote of his late wife Denise: “Denise Best was an elementary school teacher who believed that the social and economic disadvantages of her students was not an obstacle to education. She taught immigrant children in New York Public Schools and Native American children in Washington State with passion and zeal.” Chris himself was a lifelong learner who believed in the power of education. As an enrolled Chehalis Tribal member, Chris worked for 20 years in various management roles in Tribal enterprise government, most recently as the Managing Director at Chehalis Tribal Enterprises. At age 57 he returned to school, earning a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington State University. He inspired the minds and touched the hearts of all who interacted with him. Through conversations with his family, the SPSCC Foundation will be memorializing his name in the scholarship he established. The Denise Best and Chris Richardson Memorial Scholarship will now provide access to education and carry a piece of Chris and Denise’s shared legacy.