Richard Cortez grew up in Weslaco and graduated from Weslaco High School in 1962. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Pan American College in 1970. 

Richard was married to Elva (Longoria) Cortez for 47 years, and together they raised four children, Rick (Ana Temkin) Cortez, Sandy (Gopinath) Chandrahasan, Jay (Susana Cantu) Cortez, and Laura Marie Cortez. He has eleven grandchildren: Alexi, Carlos, Eric, Alan, Daniel, Mia, Kailani, Lucas, Evan, Delphine and Troy. 

Richard started his public accounting career in 1969 while still attending college. After receiving his CPA license in 1973, Richard continued practicing public accounting and in 1998 combined his practice with a regional firm which became Burton McCumber and Cortez, L.L.P. He was presented with the 2009-2010 Distinguished Public Service Award by the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Richard has retired as a partner. 

Among positions Richard has held include Vice Chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, Chairman of the Border Trade Alliance, President of the McAllen Boys' and Girls' Club, President of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs, and Member of the University of Texas-Pan American Business Council. 

In June 2005, Richard was elected the eighteenth Mayor of the City of McAllen and served for two terms. 

Richard currently serves as the Hidalgo County Judge. Judge Cortez was entrusted with managing the Covid 19 Pandemic for the County. Recently, he formed the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force to address the complex issue of poverty in Hidalgo County, with the hope of reducing it.