RAM BIO – Richard Hillery
8/17/24
WHERE WERE YOU BORN / RAISED
I was born in March of 1938 in Eagle Rock, CA (just south of Glendale). I am a third generation native Californian. In 1940 my family moved to Studio City (about a mile from Universal Studios). I was about 4 years old when World War II started and about 8 when it ended. My elementary education started during the war years. I remember going to Hollywood Blvd. with my family on the day the war ended. I attended Rio Vista Elementary School, Walter Reed Middle School, and North Hollywood High School. It was apparent that after graduation most of the boys would enter the military. As an 11th grader, I joined the US Naval Reserve, Submarine Division.
EDUCATION
I graduated with a BS in Computer Science from the University of San Francisco.
MILITARY SERVICE
After graduating from high school in 1956 I went on active duty. I served 2 years on a modernized WWII submarine that was famous during the war. If you want to read something interesting, Google “USS Rasher’s 5th Patrol”. While serving, I had two deployments: Alaska for 3 months and the Far East for 7 months. I entered the navy as and E3 and was discharged as and E5.
CAREER
After discharge from the navy, I went to college and worked at Warner Bros. Pictures. After graduation from the University of San Francisco, I worked with main frame computers at Hunt Foods, Transunion Credit Reporting, and Gamble-SKOGMO (a retail holding company). In 1970 I transitioned to car leasing and used the computer to approve credit as a dot.com company. I started my own car leasing company in 1982, later selling it to Reynolds and Reynolds, a nationwide company.
HOW DID YOU END UP ON THE CENTRAL COAST
In 1992 Dega Technologies, which developed computerized auto parts catalogs, moved me to San Luis Obispo as General Manager.
HOBBIES / INTERESTS / ACTIVITIES
Travel is at the top of the list for me and my wife. We have been to all 50 states and 121 couintries.
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
25 Year RAM Member
Have visited all 50 states.
Have visited 121 countries.
Have made a round the world trip on a ship.
Several presentations to RAMs.
FAMILY
My wife Jeri and I have been married for 65 years. We have two children and 2 grandchildren.