A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Richard Black was the 1940 Iowa state wrestling champion at 135 pounds.

After two years of work and four years of military service, Black attended Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) and graduated in 1949. During his career from 1946 to 1949, there were seven national champions in the wrestling room.

Beginning in 1949, Black coached for four years at Britt, Iowa, and then two years at Carroll, Iowa, before arriving in Owatonna, Minnesota in 1955. Over the next 30 years, his teams had a dual record of 281-116-4 and won 11 district titles, six region (section) titles and two Big Nine Conference titles. Four of his teams finished in the top five in the state and his 1962 team won the Minnesota state team title. He coached six individual state champions, 48 region (section) champions and 70 district champions. He concluded his career with 341 career victories.

Black was named Minnesota Coach of the Year in 1985 and Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich proclaimed May 4, 1985 as "Coach Dick Black Day."

He is also a member of the Dave Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Owatonna High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Black received the 25-year service award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Thirty of his athletes went on to become coaches.

Black, who continues to support the Jayne Black Memorial Scholarship, was part of an influential group of coaches who tried to improve wrestling in Minnesota. In fact, he was a pioneer in the idea of a three-class system long before the idea became reality. The state's toughest tournament during its time, the Dick Black Invitational was named in his honor.

He continues to be a great supporter and fan of wrestling and has attended the state high school tournament every year since 1949.