WILSONVILLE, Ore. – San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Famer Paul J. Richards passed away on March 19, 2025 at the age of 82.

Born February 21, 1943, Richards grew up locally and attended St. Ignatius High School.

In college, from 1961-65, Richards played on both sides of the ball as an offensive and defensive tackle. Team captain as a senior in 1964, Richards was a four-year starter and an unprecedented three-time All-Far West Conference Selection from 1962-64. He also competed in track & field. Richards was inducted into the San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 and the San Francisco State Gridiron Hall of Fame in 2017.

He went on to have a long career as an educator, administrator, and coach with stints at San Mateo High School District and Folsom Cordova Unified School District. Notably, he taught at Burlingame High School and was the principal at Hillsdale High School and, from 2005 to 2008, was the principal at Folsom High School, where he retired from and moved to Oregon.

Richards is survived by his wife Marlene.

Family and friends can leave tributes and messages of support, share photos and memorable stories, and read memories shared by others who knew Paul at paul-j-richards.forevermissed.com