Originally from Waynesville, North Carolina, Richard attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.  Richard has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from North Carolina State University and a law degree from Elon University School of Law where he graduated summa cum laude and was a member of the Law Review.  While in law school he competed in a number of national moot court competitions and placed first in the brief writing competition and second overall at the Regent University National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition, and was invited to compete at the John Marshall International Moot Court Competition in Chicago.

Richard and his wife, Carrie, currently live in Mooresville, where they are active in the community.  Richard's current activities include: Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Mooresville Soup Kitchen, Chairman of the Local Rules and Civil District Court Improvement Committee for Iredell County, Music Leader and musician at Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church.  Past activities include:  Judicial District 22A Bar President, Vice President and Treasurer; Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Williamson’s Chapel United Methodist Church; Chairman of the Board of Directors for Community Housing Development Corp. of Mooresville/South Iredell; charter member of the Davidson Rotary Club; and member of the 2010-2011 Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce Leadership class.