Richard Alexander Edwards was born January 16, 1884, in Graves County, Kentucky. He taught in Graves County rural schools from 1902 to 1906. After receiving his Bachelors of Arts from the University of Kentucky in 1910, he worked as principal of Trimble County High School until 1914. From 1914 to 1918 he served as superintendent of Morganfield City Schools in Union County. He was employed by Eastern Kentucky State Normal School on September 1, 1918, as the director of the Training School. After winning the General Education Board Scholarship he studied at Columbia University, receiving his Master of Arts in 1925.

Richard A. Edwards was a member of the National Education Association (NEA), National Society for Supervisors of Student Teaching, and the Kentucky Education Association (KEA). He was appointed by Governor Fields to the State Textbook Commission and served from 1924 to 1928. From 1948 to 1951 he was on the State Personnel Council, having been appointed by Governor Clements.

Edwards initiated many programs in his career. In 1915 he helped organize the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. While principal at Trimble County and superintendent at Morganfield, he created sports teams. In 1926 Edwards organized Richmond's first permanent Boy Scout troop in the Model High School. He also wrote several books; Looking Back and Walters Collegiate Institute.

Edwards also had several articles published ranging in topic from the history of Kentucky, to education, to bee-keeping. Richard A. Edwards retired in 1954 after working at Eastern for thirty-six years. On May 25, 1964, Edwards won the Eastern Founders Merit Award, proving his lasting effects on the University. After retirement, Mr. Edwards spent many years working in the Crabbe Library binding books in the Townsend Room and organizing the University's first archives. It is obvious from R.A. Edwards's correspondence that he was respected. He gave advice freely. He was well liked by his colleagues. Thirty-eight fellow teachers signed a proclamation honoring him.

R.A. Edwards was married to Mildred Pauline Cook. They had two children Stephen Edwards, and M. Josephine Edwards. Richard Edwards died on October 8, 1982, and is buried in the Richmond Cemetery.