Inspiring woman: Eleanor Low Richardson

Rep. Richardson with Secretary of State Cathy Cox

Eleanor Richardson served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1975 until 1991. Born in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in 1913, she broke ground as one of the first women in the male-dominated, rural-controlled Georgia General Assembly.

In addition to her legislative leadership, Richardson was a dedicated member of the Georgia League of Women Voters. She was appointed to the Georgia Commission on Women when it was created in 1992 and focused her efforts on advancing the health, education, economic, legal, and social status of women.

Richardson represented the central DeKalb district around Decatur, and she raised her voice for those who had no voice—the children, the displaced homemaker, the elderly, the hospitalized, and the mentally handicapped. She served with distinction and was appointed to key committees, including the powerful appropriations committee, the health and ecology committee, and the state planning and community affairs committee where she chaired the local legislation subcommittee.

The current home of the DeKalb County Board of Health was named in Richardson's honor. At the opening of the Eleanor L Richardson Health Center, it was said of her, "Eleanor Richardson knew when to make a compromise and when to take a stand and fight like a tiger. She knew when to build alliances and when to strike out on her own. She was a fine politician."