I am the only child of Cliff and Georgia Richie.  I grew up in Gallipolis, Ohio, along the beautiful Ohio River.  As a child, I loved spending time on or near the water.  Boating and swimming were two of my favorite pastimes.  I also enjoyed watching the sternwheelers go by our house.  Each year a number of historic boats, such as the Delta Queen and the West Virginia Bell, would travel down the river.  Many times they would be playing organ music as they passed by our house.  

As a young child, I spent a lot of time on my grandparents’ farm – Cecil and Margaret Miller.  They lived on a large farm raising animals, tobacco, and other crops.  I always loved helping with the work, especially taking care of the animals.  I developed a very compassionate heart for animals as a result of spending time with them at such a young age.  I always wanted to make sure they were warm, well-fed and safe.  My love and compassion for animals has continued into adulthood.  I spend a lot of my time advocating for animal rights.  I volunteer for many rescue organizations and have spent countless hours fighting for stronger laws to protect all animals.  Animals have been and will always be my true passion.    

I earned a Bachelor’s and a Juris Doctorate from Capital University.  I also attended the University of Rio Grande where I earned an Associate Degree.  Prior to becoming an attorney, I obtained my real estate license at the age of 19 and sold residential real estate in Gallipolis.  I was the world’s worst Relator – I have no sense of direction so I was always lost, I was almost caught in the path of a tornado, I lost my car keys in some tall grass while showing property and I was attacked by a dog and almost bitten by a snake.  Needless to say, after about three years I decided that I needed a safer career.

I have lived in central Ohio for almost thirty years.  I have practiced law for twenty-two years.  Twelve of those years were spent as a partner with Gallagher Gams Pryor Tallan & Littrell, where I specialized in civil litigation, insurance defense, contract law and sports law.  During my career, I represented a few football players in various capacities and my representation of those professional athletes afforded me some amazing opportunities.  I am currently employed with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Office as the Assistant Chief of the Workers’ Compensation Section.  We are the largest litigation section in the AG’s office and we represent the Industrial Commission and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in all eighty-eight counties in the state of Ohio.  

I am a die-hard sports fan.  I love football, baseball, hockey, and golf.  I have traveled all across the country watching my favorite teams and athletes compete.  I bleed scarlet and gray.  I have gone to three Super Bowls, two Stanley Cup finals, two World Series games, four National Championships and countless Bowl Games.  I had drinks and talked football with Mike Ditka at his restaurant in Chicago.  I attended a fundraiser hosted by Derek Jeter in Tampa, Florida before Super Bowl XLIII.  I shook hands with President Reagan while he was in Columbus campaigning for George H.W. Bush, and I gambled with a few Denver Broncos players at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.  I love to travel and have been blessed by being in the right place at the right time countless times in my life.  I have traveled all over the US, Europe, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.  John and I met on a Caribbean cruise in March 2014.  

John and I have also traveled extensively.  We manage to see each other monthly.  In addition to spending time with John and following my favorite sports teams, I love spending time with my two dogs – Hudson, a shepherd mix, and Quinsie, a black lab.  They are definitely the joy in my life.  John and I took them to Colorado last year and they loved it.  We went hiking just about every day.  It was a wonderful trip that we hope to repeat.  

As John and I begin the next chapter of our lives together, I reflect back on my life and realize that I have been so very blessed.  I have had so many amazing experiences.  I have fulfilled so many of my dreams.  I have enjoyed lifelong friendships with some pretty remarkable ladies and guys, many of whom are able to be a part of our celebration.