Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Richard H. Poff, Jr. died on Tuesday, April 29th, following a distinguished 25 year career with the Bureau. As the sole FBI agent of a resident agency responsible for six counties in southern Tennessee, Poff conducted numerous investigations of federal violations, to include financial crimes, narcotics trafficking, cyber crime, exploitation of children, public corruption, violent gang activity, bank robbery, health care fraud, and national security threats. Poff's duties included extensive experience interviewing and interrogating numerous witnesses, victims, and perpetrators of crimes across the spectrum of federal violations and planning and conducting numerous arrests, to include high risk arrests and search warrants by multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. In addition to being entrusted with the nation's lone single-man office, Poff was one of the most highly decorated agents in the entire FBI. His honors include: the FBI Medal for Bravery (2000), the Tennessee Law Enforcement Medal of Honor (2003), the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association (INEOA) Special Award of Honor (2000, 2007), the INEOA FBI Narcotics Investigation Award (2003), the INEOA Commendation Award for Outstanding Narcotics Investigation (1998), the Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) National Drug Enforcement Officers Association Distinguished Service Award (2008), the Tennessee Optimist Club FBI Special Agent of the Year (2012), the Tennessee Narcotics Officers Association Meritorious Service Award (2011), the Meritorious Service Award of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee (1998), the Commendation Award of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee (1997), the Outstanding Service Award of the Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force, District Attorney General for the Seventeenth Judicial District of Tennessee (1996, 1997), the United States Marshal Service Outstanding Service Award (2003), the Bedford Country Sheriff's Department Outstanding Service Award (1998, 2000, 2009, 2010), the Shelbyville Police Department Outstanding Service Award (1996, 1997, 2007), the Manchester Police Department Outstanding Service Award (1997), the Winchester Police Department Outstanding Service Award (2007), the Appreciation Award of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (2011), the Tennessee Governor's Task Force for Marijuana Eradication Award (2002), the FBI International Olympics Security Award (1996 Summer Olympics), the FBI Sustained Exceptional Performance Award (1998, 2006), and FBI Quality Step Increases (1997, 1999, 2003, 2006). His career with the FBI began after earning his B.A. with Distinction from the Virginia Military Institute in 1984, and his J.D. from the William and Mary School of Law in 1987. After graduating from William and Mary, Poff spent two years as an associate attorney with an insurance defense law firm in the Roanoke, Virginia District Court, before leaving the firm for the FBI due to his desire to aid the community and world at large by fighting crime. Poff's stellar record as a public servant was rivaled only by his performance as a husband and father. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Lynn Mills Poff of Tullahoma; his daughter, Laura Ellis and her husband Matthew of Madison, AL; his two sons, Ryan and Austin Poff both of Tullahoma; his granddaughter, Emma Ellis of Madison, AL; sister, Becky Marshall of Gainesville, VA; brother, Tom Poff of Huntington WV; niece, Stephanie Ryan of Chantilly, VA; and nephew, Stephen Marshall of Midlothian, VA . Poff's dedication to the pursuit of justice aided innumerable victims of violent and financial crimes and saw hundreds of criminals successfully detained and prosecuted. His legacy to his family, however, will not be in wealth or awards, but in the memory of his immeasurable love and devotion and his pristine example as a man, a husband, and a father. Visitation services will be held at Kilgore Funeral Home on Friday, May 2nd, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 3rd, at 11:00am at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Rev. Alex Hoffner officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to Alzheimer's disease research.