Dick graduated from Beaufort High School in 1967.  After graduating from Georgia Southern University in 1971 and teaching school for one year, Dick entered the business world and quickly moved to the wireless industry in sales and marketing with Motorola.  After nearly 10 years with Motorola, Dick joined MCI, and then went out on his own to form several successful wireless companies, including Transit Communications, which in 1994 became part of Nextel Communications, and Grid Towers and American Tower Corporation.

After merging Grid into American Tower Corporation, Dick returned to Beaufort in 1998 under the auspices of retirement, but found himself creating 303 Associates, LLC believing that the inevitable growth coming to the Lowcountry needed to be properly planned for and managed in order to protect the charm and the essence of Beaufort.  303 Associates was named the 2008 Business Partner of the Year by the Arts Council of Beaufort County.

In addition to serving as the Founder and Managing 303 Associates, Dick is the Founder and Managing Member of a hospitality company that operates The Beaufort Inn, and Grid Properties, LLC, a property company with holdings in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Dick was named Economic Development Ambassador for Beaufort County in 2001 and has served as a member of Beaufort County Council as well as on the Board of United Way of Beaufort County and The Coastal Carolina Foundation. In 2008, Dick was named Homegrown Champion by the South Carolina Department of Commerce.