Council honors educator Donald W. Richardson with proclamation and Claiborne Avenue mural

The New Orleans City Council opened its meeting with a proclamation recognizing the life and work of Donald W. Richardson, who taught band and music for more than three decades and mentored generations of New Orleans musicians.

Janice Manuel, identified in the meeting as Richardson’s sister, thanked the council and described her brother as a tireless educator who “demanded the best from his students” and quietly supported pupils in need. Richard Thomas, the muralist who painted Richardson’s likeness under the Claiborne Avenue overpass, said he created the piece to honor an “unsung hero” of the city’s music community and encouraged residents to visit the work.

Council members invited family and supporters forward for photos and brief remarks. The proclamation, which the council noted carries signatures from all seven members present, framed Richardson’s contributions as part of New Orleans’s cultural and educational fabric and urged the public to view the mural as a visible acknowledgment of his influence.