Richard A. Castro is a businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist dedicated to uplifting his community. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University. Beginning his career as a teacher, city manager, realtor, and builder, he found success in 1983 by opening his first McDonald’s restaurant, growing his franchise to 29 locations with over 2,000 employees.

His leadership extends beyond business, having served as president of the McDonald’s Hispanic Owner/Operator Association and as a board member of Community En Accion and the Borderplex Alliance. A champion for education, he established the HACER® Scholarship Program, which has awarded over $36 million to Hispanic students nationwide, and is one of the founders of CREEED.

His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the El Paso Business Hall of Fame and recognition from Texas State University, which named its undergraduate admissions center in his honor. Castro continues to support education, business, and community development through various leadership roles and philanthropic initiatives.