Richard White was born and raised in Rowan County, Kentucky. He is married to Valerie
(Campbell) White of Breathitt County, Kentucky. Richard has four children, Jason White of Morehead, Betsy Keaton of Georgetown,
Suzanna White of Mt. Sterling and Emily White of Morehead.Richard Graduated from Rowan County High School. He then continued his education at the National Hardwood Lumber Association School where he graduated in 1971. Richard also attended the University of Santa Monica studying Psychology.
Mr. White began his work experience when he was 14 years old at the University Cinema. He then worked at C.E. Bishop Drug Store until he graduated from High School. He then began his career with Harold White Lumber Company, where he was employed for five years. His job included grading and inspecting lumber, lumber purchasing and learning lumber sales. Richard then started R. L. White Tie Company in 1976. The company bought and sold railroad crossties and Veneer White Oak and Walnut Logs. He then sold the crosstie business to Koppers Company, Inc., in 1978 and moved to the present location and incorporated Richard White Wood Products. In 17 years, he brought sales from $50,000.00/year to $5,700,000.00/year by purchasing and exporting Veneer logs. In 1995 Richard purchased 1500 acres of virgin land. He paid $105.00 per acre and in 9 years developed a Bed and Breakfast, Inn and Conference Center, Approx. 20 cabins, 2 picnic areas, Activity Center (seat 500), Deli/Grocery Store, Catering Facilities, Cliffview Resort Village, Lakeview village (all underground utilities), Campground, approx. 10 fishing ponds and trails for horses, hiking, Jeeping, etc. He sold over 100 lots less than an acre for $5,000.00 - $20,000.00 each. The property taxes in 1995 were $900.00 per year in Lee and Wolfe County. When Mr. White sold Cliffview, taxes for both counties were approx. $100,000.00 per year.
While raising his family and building a successful business, Richard has achieved many accomplishments; He was named the 1986 Small Business Exporter of the Year for Kentucky, by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the 1987 Exporter of the Year by Governor Collins. He is a member of the Kentucky District Export Council, as well as Bluegrass International Trade Association.
Aside from Mr. White’s business endeavors, he is a great humanitarian, giving to various charities and setting the standard for others by giving back to the community and purchasing locally. Some examples of his generosity include disaster relief efforts during Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Opal. Mr. White took his entire work force to Florida and South Carolina to clean up and assist the communities that were destroyed, bearing the entire financial burden himself. During the cleanup efforts of Hurricane Katrina, he sent a Mobile Kitchen to help feed the citizens and workers in the affected areas. In 2003, after the Ice Storm hit our community, he closed his business and provided equipment with manpower to help in the cleanup efforts. Those who know him can say that he is not only an extraordinary business man, but an extraordinary man.
