Fred Richmond

Who is Fred Richmond?

Frederick William Richmond is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Richmond was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He served in the United States Navy from 1943 until 1945. Richmond graduated from Boston University in 1945. He served as deputy finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1958 until 1960. Richmond was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. He was a member of the New York City Council from 1973 until 1974. Richmond was elected to Congress in 1974 and represented New York's 14th congressional district from January 3, 1975, until August 25, 1982.

From the 1950s to the 1980s he built a conglomerate, incorporated in 1960 as Walco National, buying up and usually improving the operations of a diverse group of smaller operating companies. His business career was not without notoriety. Richmond was also known as an opportunist who skirted the ethics. In one instance, he was accused of involvement in greenmail, the purchase of strategic blocks of shares for resale back to a target for a profit.