An award winner on numerous occasions, Richards was chosen to receive a Gold Medal from the National Museum of American Art’s Educational Outreach Program. In 1994 he was awarded First Place at the Eight Northern Pueblos Art Show in painting. The next year his entry in SWAIA’s Indian Market received ribbons for Second Place, Third Place and Honorable Mention. Richards’ painting “Spirit of Yei” was selected by the Pueblo Grande Museum in Arizona to advertise their 1998 invitational Indian Market.