Lakewood Honors, Shares Memories of Former Mayor Doug Richardson on Monday Night (PHOTOS)

During his 17 years on the Lakewood City Council, Doug Richardson provided some of the funniest one-liners ever uttered on a dais.

But on Monday night, members of the Lakewood community got their turn to share some humor.

"Stand up," asked former Councilman Pad Finnigan, who often butted heads with Richardson as a member of the influential Lakewood Cares community group. "Can I see your back? It's gone - bullseye that Lakewood Cares painted on your back."

Even Finnigan, even the council's weekly verbal bruiser Dennis Haugen, all of them thanked Richardson for his service.

Throughout the night, community leaders recalled the leadership and enthusiasm of Richardson, who is now serving on the Pierce County Council.

From the Clover Park School District to the Lakewood Historical Society to a live satellite feed featuring the commander of the 4-2 Stryker Brigade, they all thanked him for his leadership.

Speaking of leadership, Lakewood's three former mayors - Richardson, Claudia Thomas and William Harrison, the city's first mayor - joined current Mayor Don Anderson gathered for pictures.

City staff put together a slideshow of interviews with young attendees of the city's annual Truck and Tractor Day, which Richardson playfully tried to have declared a national holiday.

Coincidence or not, Richardson pointed out, the Seahawks have gone undefeated at home ever since the start of Sounder Commuter service from Lakewood.

And although he won't be serving regularly inside the Lakewood City Council Chambers, he still be serving the community on the county level.

"It's been a very quick 17 years," he said. "It's been a privilege every day to serve those 17 years."