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Richard Adkisson, the son of Louella Adkisson and Roger Bigham, was born and raised in Trezevant, Tennessee. Graduating as valedictorian from Trezevant High School in 1975, Adkisson knew he wanted to pursue a career involving mathematics. After consulting with his advisor, he set his eyes on civil engineering and never looked back.
Fall of 1975, Richard began his freshman year at Tennessee State University in Nashville. While there, he co-oped with the Federal Highway Administration off-and-on for three years. In this position, he worked out of an office in Cherokee, Alabama, conducted survey work, inspected bridges, and laid out roadway. Ultimately, he worked on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
In December of 1984, Richard Adkisson graduated from Tennessee State University, and in May of 1985, he began his first job with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). TDOT is made up of two divisions–maintenance and engineering. Richard Adkisson was the first black person to ever be hired into TDOT’s engineering division. He started out by surveying work, laying out jobs, inspecting roads, and laying out asphalt.
Ten years later, Mr. Adkisson made TDOT history once again when he was the first black person promoted as supervisor of an engineering office, supervising McKenzie’s office.
He was promoted in 1999, moving to work at the Jackson Regional Office as the Assistant Regional Director of Engineering. Under this position, all office supervisors within the region reported to him.