Richard Alphonse Hoffmann was born on October 9, 1946, in Highland, Illinois, and grew up at his family's home in Lindendale Park, where his father was the caretaker. Stricken with polio at age 4 but left without serious effects, he became a star basketball player at St. Paul's Catholic School, assisted the coaching staff, mentored other players, and was mentioned in Highland's sports news almost weekly. After high school he played the accordion and had a small band, and he also attended a computer repair school. During the Vietnam War he joined the Armed Services, enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 12, 1966, advanced to corporal, and served in Vietnam with the First Marine Division for 6 months. He was killed on Thursday, September 19, 1968, in a battle at Quang Nam, Vietnam, becoming the first Highland-born fatality of the Vietnam War. Services were held at St. Paul's Catholic Church on Thursday, October 10, 1968, and he was interred at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Highland.