He is married to Julie Huettel Clay. His civic interests and activities include the Huntsville Museum of Art. Professional associations are Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Diplomate of the American Board of Thoracic Surgeons. He has been honored as the physician of the year for the American Heart Association. Richard's hobbies are golf, travel, collecting art and he is an audiophile.