Richard Shipley

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Richard A. Shipley was born in Fayette, Missouri, a close-knit community where relationships were strong and familiar. His early education began at Lincoln High School, a segregated school he attended during the first years of his life. In 1963, during a time of significant change in the United States, Fayette’s schools were integrated with the opening of a new Fayette High School.

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As part of this transition, students at Lincoln High School were given the ACT at an early age. Richard distinguished himself by being one of only a small group of students selected to advance—an experience that placed him on a new academic path during a pivotal moment in history.

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After graduating from high school, he served his country by enlisting in the United States Army, completing four years of service before being discharged in 1972. Following his military service, he spent several years traveling and gaining life experience across the country.

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In 1978, Richard began a long-term career with Peabody Coal Company. When the company later transitioned ownership and ultimately closed in 1993, it became a turning point in his life. Determined to continue growing, he returned to college and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in May 2000.

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In 2002, Richard and his family made another significant life transition, relocating to West Palm Beach, Florida—where a new chapter of purpose, reflection, and spiritual exploration would continue to unfold.

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Florida.