M. Catherine Richardson, a 1963 SUNY Oswego graduate, received the Syracuse Law Honors Medal, a prestigious award presented by the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association, during the its 2020 Virtual Law Alumni Weekend.
Richardson was one of six SU alumni recognized this year for their professional achievements and contributions to the legal field. Specifically, she was selected for her dedication to the practice of law and to the Central New York community, where she spent her entire legal career specializing in corporate healthcare law and operations, and for her commitment to the legal profession and efforts to advance leadership opportunities for women, including serving as the first woman president of the Onondaga County Bar Association and second woman president of the New York State Bar Association.
After graduating from Oswego in 1963, Richardson went on to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Northern Colorado in 1969. She worked for nine years as a high school mathematics teacher before returning to college to earn a J.D. from Syracuse University in 1977.
Richardson holds the Oswego name very close to her heart as she is a member of the Sheldon Legacy Society, carrying out the work of the Oswego founder, Edward Austin Sheldon. She has also served her alma mater as a member of the College Council, a speaker at Honors Convocation and the chair of the Oswego College Foundation board of directors.
She has said her “mantra is to give back” and has always expressed pride in SUNY Oswego and in how it has grown into a more prominent educational institution.
For nearly 40 years, she has donated her time and talents to a wide range of civic and community organizations locally and more recently on national boards as well. Richardson was a partner of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, based out of Syracuse, for her entire legal career.
She was president of New York State Bar Association (1996-1997); the first woman president of the Onondaga County Bar Association (1987); president of The New York Bar Foundation (2009-2012); chair of The Foundation Fellows (2005-2008); and a member of the board of governors of the American Bar Association (2003-2006).
For 18 years, including three years as chair, she served on the Board of Trustees of SRC Inc., a not-for-profit research and development company in North Syracuse.
In addition to receiving the Law Honors Medal, Richardson has been previously awarded the Distinguished Lawyer Award (OBCA), the Shapiro Award (NYSBA), Lifetime Achievement Award (New York Bar Foundation) and the Outstanding Alumni Award at Oswego.
At Oswego’s Class of 2005 Commencement ceremony, Richardson was presented with an honorary doctorate of law by President Deborah F. Stanley. Richardson was recognized for her dedication to the legal profession and for her unwavering support of her alma mater.