Richard Foss Locke was born on April 13, 1876 in Arcadia, Iowa. He was a long-time resident of Rockford, Illinois and moved to Glen Ellyn, Illinois in 1917.

His father, John, enlisted with Co. M, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry on March 19, 1863 as a Corporal. He mustered out at the Fairfax Court House, Virginia on July 20, 1865 as a Sergeant. He was a Comrade in the G. L. Nevius Post No. 1, Rockford.

Richard joined the Order around 1891. He was a member of the John A. Logan Camp No. 26, Rockford and was elected its Commander on December 2, 1904. He was the Department Commander for Illinois in 1908. He was elected Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief and appointed as the first Chairman of the newly created Committee on Policy and Program at the 1933 National Encampment. Twelve times he was appointed National Counselor (1931, 1932, 1949, 1950, 1953-1960) and was appointed National Historian in 1960. At the 1961 National Encampment he was elected to a two-year term on the Council of Administration and he died while serving in that role. Richard became a Life Member on August 20, 1957 and assigned the number seven.

He was a lawyer for 35 years, being admitted to the bar in 1903, and was an authority on school and municipal law. He served as a lawyer for many school districts. He was a Past President of the DuPage County Bar Association and a member of the Illinois Bar Association. At one time he had a law practice with Illinois' Past Department Commander Bruce B. Garrett (1905).

Richard was a Worshipful Master of Rockford Lodge No. 102 A.F. & A.M. and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and Tebala Shrine. He was a charter member of the Glen Ellyn Lions Club.

He married Grace T. Hench and they had five daughters and seven sons.

Brother Locke died on April 25, 1962 at his law office in Glen Ellyn and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Rockford.