Richard Johnson was born in Fall 1926 in East Lansing. He attended East Lansing Schools and graduated with the Class of 1944. He attended one year at Michigan State College, then entered the army in Spring 1945. After discharge, he returned to MSC and graduated in 1949. He attended the University of Michigan Medical School from 1949 to 1953. Johnson married in June 1950. Finally, he underwent training as an OB/Gyn and returned to East Lansing in 1957. He is estimated to have delivered hundreds of babies in East Lansing in his career since.