URGENT: Renowned Educator Earl Richardson Passes Away, Leaving Lasting Legacy on HBCUs.

Breaking News: Renowned Educator Earl Richardson Passes Away at 81 Earl Richardson, a prominent educator and former president of Morgan State University, has passed away at the age of 81. He died on Saturday, September 13. Richardson led Morgan State from 1984 to 2010 and was instrumental in organizing a historic lawsuit that ended with Maryland agreeing to provide $577 million in supplemental funding over 10 years to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The lawsuit, which began in 2006, highlighted the long-standing issue of underfunding for HBCUs. Richardson's efforts helped bring attention to this critical issue, ultimately leading to a significant increase in funding for these institutions. Richardson was remembered by colleagues as an educator "armed with history," who dedicated his career to advocating for greater resources and opportunities for HBCUs. This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*