Historical record of Chester Gerald “Chester G.” Richards, who served two periods as sheriff of Cochran County, Texas.
Service dates and personal information.
Chester Gerald Richards was born on April 19, 1929, in Hockley County, Texas, while his parents were visiting family.
The following day, April 20, his father made him a bed in their wagon and brought him home to Lehman in a horse-pulled wagon. Richards spent his childhood on the Masten Ranch.
He married Bertie Ruth West in 1948. Four children were born to their marriage.
Richards's first public job began in 1942, when he worked for S. A. Ramsey at Ramsey's Shoe Store.
He later helped with the construction of the Lehman Gas Plant and spent several years working as a cotton ginner.
In 1956, Richards went into business for himself and opened an irrigation pump business. He operated the business until January 1, 1973, when he entered office as the newly elected Cochran County sheriff.
After completing his first period as sheriff, Richards worked at the park and cemetery. He was later reelected and returned to the office of Cochran County sheriff on January 1, 1985.
Richards's wife, Bertie, died on October 21, 1971. He married Barbara Chesshir in 1977.
Sheriff Chester Gerald Richards died at his home in Brownfield, Terry County, Texas, on October 22, 2011. He was 82 years old.
He was buried at Morton Memorial Cemetery in Morton, Texas.
Biography source: Adapted from Texas Sesquicentennial: Texas' Last Frontier, Cochran County, 1836–1986, Volume 1 . Copyright Cochran County Historical Commission. Written by Chester G. Richards circa 1985 and adapted by Mary Helen McKnight in 2016.
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