Richard Hayes was born in Texas and lives in Denton. Hayes graduated from Denton High School in 1971. He earned a bachelor's of business administration in management from Texas Christian University in 1975, an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University in 1976, and a J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1978. His career experience includes working as a law clerk to Judge Adrian Spears at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and as an attorney at Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant.