Richard graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a degree in Geology. His passion for rocks & minerals began at the age of six when his parents took him to Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico during the summers in the mid-sixties. The mountains around Taos had numerous gold and sliver mines in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Richard began collecting Malachite and Azurite ore from the mine tailings and began selling rocks at the age of eight in front of his house in Dallas, Texas. By the age of twelve, Richard had a small wholesale rock business selling to local craft stores in the area

When college rolled around, Richard decided to make Geology his career. After graduating, he worked in Oil & Gas Exploration for a number of years. Shortly after, he went to work in information systems technology for Ross Perot's company EDS. After another stint in information systems for a Natural Gas Utility, he moved to Annapolis, Maryland and became a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Master (Boat Captain) for five years. He was married in 2000 and felt he had to find a “real Job”. He took a Project Manager position rebuilding Popular Island in the Chesapeake Bay, working out of Annapolis. After leaving that position because of budget cuts and working several contract jobs, Richard decided to get into the Rock & Mineral business.

Richard began selling rocks and minerals at Art & Craft Shows in September of 2006 . In June of 2007, he opened a brick & mortar store. Since that time, Earthly Elements has grown the business to one of best Rock Shops on the East Coast. The store strives to be an old style Rock Shop carrying a large variety of mineral specimens, crystals, gemstones, fossils, metaphysical stones as well as unique gifts. You can also visit his store, Mystical Crystals, at the Maryland Renaissance Festival every year!