Richard is a native Texan from the San Antonio area, with an education in the physical sciences and an industrial chemistry career of twenty-two years.  After retirement from that career, Richard entered Perkins' Houston-Galveston program, leading to ordination in the United Methodist Church.  After thirteen years of serving in East and Central Texas churches, he and his wife Rebecca retired from the appointed ministry cycle in 2014 and have joined forces with League City UMC to minister to God's children near and far.