Richard has been a Reno resident since 1967, attending local schools and graduating from UNR in 1984 with a BS in Economics.

For 40 years Richard has been involved in numerous community activities including Chamber of Commerce, EDAWN, WINN, UNR School of Business, Washoe Co. School Dist., Junior Achievement, International Order of DeMolay, GBYSL, NV Youth Soccer Assoc., Reno Youth Sports Assoc., and more!

Richard is Past Vice Chairman of Reno Tahoe Airport Authority, Past Vice Chairman of Reno Spakrs Convention and Visitors Authority, past member of Reno Financial Advisory Board and past member Reno Special Events Committee.
In 2012 the City of Reno renamed the Moana Springs fields to the "Richard L. Jay Soccer Fields"

He is past chairman of the WC1 Save our Schools Committee.  WC1 was successfully passed new funding for building new schools and renovation of existing schools.

Richard has one son, Jonathan.

During his term his local group will be Junior Achievement, and international group H2O for Life - drilling water wells in Africa for humans and animals.