Richard R. Becker is a noted American author and speaker. He was born on Nov. 21, 1967, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before becoming an author, Becker’s career as a writer included more than three decades of work as a journalist, advertising copywriter, creative director, and communication strategist.
He has impacted several fields, earning more than 100 awards for his commercial work. He is also a sought-after educator and speaker who has spoken to audiences ranging from twenty to two thousand.
Early Life and Background
Becker’s early years did not foreshadow success. He was born to teenage parents and was afflicted with club feet. His grandparents raised him after his father was killed in a car accident. They were poor, and his grandmother had cancer. These difficulties, along with his handicap, contributed to many early social and educational challenges, including an inability to read.
As his feet were slowly corrected over the years, his grandparents encouraged him to participate in many youth activities. But due in part to his early social isolation, Becker often preferred his imagination and art to social activities with his peers. The development of his imagination would later play a significant role in his career path.
Before his grandmother died, Richard was relocated to live with his mother and her new family in Burnsville, Minnesota, and later Las Vegas. Richard navigated these transitions and worked a variety of jobs (fast food, retail paint, muralist, stage foreman, and convenience store clerk, among them) to earn his undergraduate education.
Career as a Journalist
Becker studied psychology at Whittier College in California before transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno. The school encouraged him to change his major from psychology and art to journalism, with an emphasis in advertising. It was through the journalism program that Becker learned to write.
Along with other part-time jobs, he was hired a copywriter for a small advertising agency in Reno. Later, he briefly served as its creative director while working concurrently as an in-house consultant for the corporate communications department of northern Nevada’s electric utility.
Becker returned to Las Vegas in 1991 amid a recession. No one was hiring professional writers, but many magazines, companies, and advertising agencies had bits of freelance work. He wrote for ShowBiz Weekly, What’s On in Las Vegas, and his byline appeared in the Denver Post, Los Angeles Times, and publications for Simon & Schuster.
Career as a Professional
His freelance career quickly led to the foundation of Copywrite, Ink., a strategic communication firm that would gain experience on more than 1,000 accounts, including City of Henderson, Fidelity Investments, March Of Dimes, McDonald’s, U.S. Air Force, and Volkswagen. He was recognized for his work, being named Communicator of the Year by IABC Las Vegas, Agency Principal of the Year by Working in Communications, and a Community Achievement Award from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, all before he was 35.
In addition, Becker concurrently held several senior management positions with other organizations; scripted a documentary produced with PBS, contributed to five books related to marketing, public relations, and management; and taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for 20 years. He was featured as a speaker for various organizations, including Wizard World Comic Con, G2E World Gaming Expo, National Recreation and Park Association, and U.S. Small Business Administration.
Becker served more than 60 nonprofit and professional organizations as a consultant and board member. He previously served as a state commissioner for Nevada Volunteers (AmeriCorps, Nevada). He currently serves as a city council-appointed volunteer commissioner and chair on the Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.
Career as a Literary Author
In 2020, Becker started a project to write one story a week for 50 weeks. This work became a debut collection of literary fiction and psychological thrillers called 50 States. It broke into the top 100 literary short story collections on Amazon for three consecutive months. 50 States also won first place in the ABR Book Excellence Awards, Spring 2022 BookFest Awards, 2023 Book Excellence Awards, and was a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards.
Becker followed up this literary success with Ten Threads, a 10-story companion to 50 States that he published as a Kindle exclusive on Amazon. While working on Ten Threads, he stumbled on the story he wanted to release as his debut novel. That novel, Third Wheel, was released in August 2023 and became an Amazon best-seller in October 2023. The novel was named a finalist in the Global Book Awards and won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When was Richard R. Becker born?
Richard R. Becker was born on November 21, 1967.
Q: What is Richard R. Becker’s relation to Native Americans?
Richard R. Becker’s father was half Native American. Specifically, he is related to tribes that inhabited the Rio Grand Valley, which is now divided between the United States and Mexico. They included some Apache and Coahuiltecan. The name Coahuiltecan is a bit of a misnomer in that the tribes who lived in the valley were smaller and separate so Europeans applied this term to a great many people.
Going further back, some of his ancestors are Quechua, a people who live in the Andean highlands and no doubt traveled with Europeans north to the Rio Grande valley. Whether they did this as volunteers in not known.
Q: What is Richard R. Becker best known for?
Prior to 2021, Richard R. Becker was best known as the founder of Copywrite, Ink. because the firm has been responsible for work on several advertising and political campaigns. Now, Becker is best known for his award-winning and best-selling books.
Q: What are the titles of Becker’s books?
Richard R. Becker wrote 50 States, a collection of short, short stories; Ten Threads, a 10-story companion to 50 States; and Third Wheel, a coming-of-age thriller set in 1982 Las Vegas.
Q: Has Richard R. Becker won any awards?
Yes, Richard R. Becker received the ABR Book Excellence Awards, Spring 2022 BookFest Awards, 2023 Book Excellence Awards, and Literary Titan Gold Book Award. He was also a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards 2022 and Global Book Awards. Along with literary awards, Becker has earned more than 100 awards for commercial work.
Q: Where can I find more about Richard R. Becker?
Richard R. Becker’s work can be found anywhere books are sold. To find Richard R. Becker websites and on social networks, visit his biosite: https://bio.site/richardrbecker
Conclusion
Richard R. Becker’s journey from a poor, disabled boy in the Midwest to an American businessman and award-winning author is nothing short of remarkable. His ability to quickly connect with people through words and the tireless support for his community and country has made him an admired figure in many industries.
Today, Richard R. Becker is working with select clients at Copywrite, Ink. and writing his next novel. He has temporarily postponed public speaking to coach a high school softball team.