I noticed that distant cousins, the descendants of Clegg DeMumbrie Richards, who is my great grand-uncle, visited Digging Up Your Family while searching for him (hi! I’m waving to you!). So I decided to post his obituary. Though the family may already have this, other people out there might be searching for him and not have it! This obituary appeared on Sunday morning in The Commercial Appeal on June 19, 1955. It is transcribed below.
EX-DETECTIVE CHIEF DEAD AT AGE 66
Clegg Richards Had Colorful Police Career
JOINED FORCE IN 1922
Clegg DeMumbrie Richards of 374 South Prescott, former chief of detectives with the Memphis Police Department, died at 2:55 yesterday afternoon at Kennedy Veterans Hospital after a long illness. He was 66.
Mr. Richards’ colorful career as a policeman began in 1922, when he joined the force as a rookie patrolman.
Father Was Chief
His father, Jerome E. Richards, had at one time been chief of police, and his brother, Judge Ed Richards, was formerly a Criminal Court judge.
His rise in the department was rapid. He became captain in charge of the auto theft bureau in 1930. Seven years later he succeeded Will T. Griffin as chief of detectives, a post then designated chief inspector. He resigned from the department in 1940.
During World War II, Mr. Richards was with the Office of Price Administration. He retired about eight years ago because of ill health.
World War I Veteran
Mr. Richards was a World War I Army veteran, having served as a lieutenant. He was a member of Idlewild Presbyterian Church and was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He lived his entire life in Memphis and attended Christian Brothers College and the old Memphis University School.
He leaves his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Dell Pollard of Memphis; a sister, Mrs. S.A. Para of Nashville, and two grandchildren. National Funeral Home is in charge.
