Richard Manning Dickeson was born November 8, 1952, at Levelland, Texas, as the only child to James Clifford "Dick" Dickeson (1910-1961) and Dorothy Ann Richard (1918-1988). Dickeson spent most of his life in Dallas, Texas at family residences on North Orient St., Estacado Dr., and Liberty St., while pursuing a parochial education at St. Joseph's Academy on Swiss Ave., and at St. Edward's on Elm St. Afterwards, he attended Dallas public school at Robert T. Hill Jr. High, Bryan Adams High, and Metro East on Swiss.His first flight was given in a Stearman biplane owned and flown by family friend Rusty Brown out of the now-defunct White Rock Airport near Military Parkway in Dallas, which gave light to a passion that continues to this day. Although never considering it a career, Dickeson had his own adventures, including a stint as bush pilot in Alaska, and being allowed to fly in a Phantom F-4E as passenger. He later took residence in Cockrell Hill, Texas, a quiet community in the western side of Dallas, where he remained until leaving the Dallas Counry Sheriff's Department due to progressive macular degeneration--which also grounded him as a pilot.Twice married, he now lives on 80 acres of land near Hillsboro, Texas, with his wife, Pat, along with their menagerie of dogs, birds, and horses--along with an occasional cat.

Pilot - Multi-engine - Commercial; Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education certification; Security Specialist; FBI training on Bank Security, Theft and Prevention; Detention Training Officer; Fire Training, Prevention, Suppression, and Rescue; Instructor, First Aid Safety, Treatment, and CPR; E.M.T. training; Fingerprint Technician; Search and Rescue certification. Finally got to marry my "Dream Girl" after years of waiting and hoping.

2003 Feb 04: While working on the final edit of "Fortune's Whirlwind", I suffered a small stroke in August 2002, and a larger one in October, which resulted in a short stay in the hospital. Recovery is progressing well and I expect to have the manuscript finished and at iUniverse by the end of 2003. 2003 -- Another stroke. Spent October in therapy. Right arm affacted. 2004 -- October -- EORTUNE'S WHIRLWIND published through iUniverse.