Born in Vancouver, Canada, Richard became a fan of Star Trek during its original network run.
In 1969 he attended his first science fiction convention after his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. During the five years he lived there, he ran Star Trek fan clubs within both his high school and college, and attended some twenty conventions in the US and Canada, including the first all Star Trek convention in New York in 1972.
In 1974 Richard moved to Los Angeles where he met Susan Sackett, Gene Roddenberry's assistant and a fellow Star Trek fan. Because of his good working knowledge of the Star Trek universe, he soon found himself involved as a volunteer consultant to Roddenberry's offices. In 1986, after almost ten years of being Paramount's resident Trekkie, and at Roddenberry’s insistence, Richard was hired as the studio's official Star Trek consultant. This was in time to work on the show's twentieth anniversary events, the promotion of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and on the creation of Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Next Generation.
For over five years, Richard consulted with the studio's Video, Syndication, Publicity and Merchandising divisions, aiding Roddenberry in his efforts to keep Star Trek, in all its forms, true to his vision. He also attended some twenty to thirty Star Trek conventions a year, becoming, in the minds of many, an ambassador for Star Trek. Richard remained in this position until shortly after Roddenberry's death, at which time the studio closed Roddenberry's Star Trek offices.
Richard still makes his living as a Star Trek expert, consulting for the studio and various Star Trek licensees, and appearing as a speaker at Star Trek conventions around the world. He writes columns for the Official Star Trek Fan Club (US) and for Star Trek Central Europe, and supplies photos from his extensive collection of Star Trek art to publishers, licensees and others.
Although his involvement with the Star Trek productions and hundreds of conventions have made him something of a Star Trek professional, Richard considers himself to be, first and foremost, a Star Trek fan.
This year will be Richard's 20th visit to Conquest. Come and help us celebrate, and discover the magic of Conquest which brings Richard back year after year.
