Richard A. "Dick" Muth was born in Huntington.  He is the fourth of 12 children born to Bill and Jane Muth.  He was reared in a home that stressed spirituality and practicality.  Dick graduated from St. Joseph High School and attended Marshall University.

    Dick got his start in the family business at age 12 as a stick-boy.  He put sticks between the stacks of raw lumber.  From then on, he earned everything he could about the lumber business. In 1967, Dick started working full-time in his father=s business. 

    Today, Dick is co-owner and President/Treasurer of Muth Lumber  Company, Inc. along with his brother, Tim, who is Vice-President/Secretary. They bought Muth Lumber from their father, W.H. Muth Jr., in 1984.  In 1987, they moved from their two acre site in Kenova to 15 acres in Ironton.  They specialize in hardwood lumber with sales at the national and international level.  Dick and his brother also jointly own two other companies, Muth Lumber Drying and Muth Energy. 

    Dick is a member of various organizations in and around Huntington.  Dick became a member of Marshall University=s John Marshall Society in 1993.  He is a member of the state Catholic School Board, BB&T Board of Directors, Our Lady of Fatima Educational Foundation, and the St. Joseph High School Advisory Board of Directors. 

    Dick was a Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in 1998, Lawrence County Businessman of the Year in 2001, and received the Bishop=s Cross Award in 1999.

    Dick=s interests outside of business are catholic education, both at the local and state levels, cooking, gardening, fishing, and golf.  Dick won the Herald-Dispatch (Cook of the Month) in June 1999. 

    In 1968, Dick married Kathryn (Kit) Shires and they have three children; Matthew, Mark, and Amanda.  Matthew is an attorney, in Dayton.  Mark graduated from Marshall University in 2003, and works at Muth Lumber Co.  Amanda is in her senior year at Marshall University majoring in Criminal Justice.  Mark and his wife, Michele, will be making Dick and Kit grandparents in December.