Richard Cox attended Wartburg College and majored in education. He joined the Army in 1958 and served in Fort Hood, Texas; Orleans, France; and Fort Lewis, Washington.From 1964-1976, Dick worked in the display advertising department of the Daily Gazette. He was the superintendent of recreation for the City of Sterling Park District from 1976-1983. For six years he was the night manager of the Duis Recreation Center.Dick worked as a real estate associate for Arians Realty from 1984-1999. For fifteen years, he was a member of the Whiteside County Board of Realtors and was named Associate of the Year in both 1984 and 1989. He was the district vice-president of the Illinois Association of Realtors and was selected as the Associate Realtor of the Year in 1991.In 1983, Mr. Cox was co-chairperson of the United Way fund drive. He has been a member of the Illinois High School Association for forty years and a football official and a track starter for thirty-plus years. Dick has served the Red Cross as board member, president, disaster committee member, and Peoria Regional Red Cross program volunteer, donating gallons of his own blood. Twice Dick has been president of the local Kiwanis Club and has served as Division 14’s Lt. Governor. For nine years he was the treasurer of Council House. He has also served as the president of the Sauk Valley Food Bank. In 1998, he was elected to the Whiteside County Board.