Richard Kuss was born January 4, 1923, in Springfield, Ohio.

He graduated from Wittenberg University and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He married Barbara Deer in 1944, and they had four children together.

Kuss served three years in the U.S. Navy during World War Il as a Lieutenant JG in the Navy Supply Corps. He joined the Bonded Oil Company in Springfield in 1946, became president in 1967 and retired in 1983. During his tenure, Bonded Oil Company became one of the premiere, independent oil companies in the industry and Kuss received numerous awards for his contributions to the industry.

Known for his generosity, Kuss was actively involved in a number of organizations around Springfield. He served as vice chairman for the Wittenberg University Board of Directors, was President of the Alumni association and

received Wittenberg's Medal of Honor. Kuss was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Springfield Foundation, a past president of The Van Dyke Club, University Club of Springfield, and the Springfield Country Club.

He was a devoted member of Covenant Presbyterian Church for more than 65 years where he served as an Elder.

Kuss was the first recipient of Springfield's "Lifetime Achievement Award" as well as the first honoree of the "Spirit of Clark County Award" and the Clark State Community College "Founders Award." After a successful fundraising campaign that he chaired for Clark State, the Kuss Auditorium was named in honor of Richard and his wife, Barbara.

Kuss died Aug 9, 2010 in his home in Springfield, Ohio.

Richard Kuss is interred in the family plot at Ferncliff Cemetery, beside his wife, Barbara, in Sec O.