Ned Richardson 
Memorial Page 

1926-2004 

 


1950's

While working at Dan River Mills in the early 1950’s, Ned was invited to join the Clyde Moody Band.  The self-taught pianist easily fit right in with the country musicians.  The group performed every Saturday night for the one-hour “New Dominion Barn Dance” which was broadcast on a local radio station.  They also traveled extensively, performing all around the country.  In Ned’s words, “I’d go a whole weekend without a bed.  We’d get up at 5:30 Friday morning and get back to bed at 6 Monday afternoon, all the while holding down a first-shift job at the Mill.”
               When Ned finished his service with the U. S. Navy in 1946, he learned that the G.I. Bill would pay for about a year’s worth of higher education.  Since Ned had no aspirations that would require college, a friend, who worked at the Danville airport, suggested that he use the money to take flying lessons.  Ned was hooked immediately.  He earned his private pilot’s license on May 3, 1947, and spent many a weekend in the air for close to 50 years after.


1948


1980's

 

                Ned came to work at WBTM in 1956.  A few years later, he began the role for which he’s probably best known, as host of the “WBTM Trading Post.”  For more than 40 years, Ned could be heard Monday through Saturday mornings, helping people buy, sell, and trade everything from cats to clothing to cars.  His wit and humor caught some callers off guard, but his memory for details never failed to amaze his fans.  In his 48 years at WBTM, Ned saw his craft change from spinning vinyl records and recording on reel-to-reel tapes to having most of the music on a computer and bringing in network programs through satellite technology.  He adapted to whatever changes the industry threw at him, and continued in the career he loved till the end, becoming Danville’s own Radio Legend.

 

Click here to read the article written by Ned Richardson in 1963


1976

          

 

          Ned loved to fly and he loved to share the experience.  For close to 50 years, Ned piloted his rented “Piper Cub” all over the region, every chance he got.  He never flew farther than the New River Valley Airport in southwestern Virginia, but Ned especially enjoyed taking first-timers up in his airplane, to share with them the joy he found in flying.