Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway and City Council proclaimed May 12 Coach Friday Richards Day at their meeting May 12. 

Richards graduated in 1972 from Marietta High, where he lettered three years in football, basketball and track.

Richards attended the University of Florida on a football scholarship and was drafted by the New York Jets.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education at the University of Florida, Richards completed his master's degree with honors at Jacksonville State University.

Coach Richards returned to Marietta High School in 1978 to teach physical education and health and to coach football, basketball and track. He enjoyed a successful coaching career for the past 16 years, and he became the head football coach at Marietta High School in 1994.

One of Coach Richards' most memorable moments occurred at the 1993 football banquet when his high school jersey #44 was retired and he was cited as "most likely to have a positive influence on his students becoming successful on and off the playing field and most likely to be visited by returning students."