Richard Paul (Dick) Haugland was born in Huron, South Dakota on 17 July 1943. His parents were Elizabeth M. (Steuber) Haugland and Nelvin E. Haugland. He has one sister, Barbara A. (Haugland) Felker, who lives in Edina, Minnesota. Richard Haugland received all of his primary and secondary school education in Faribault, Minnesota. He graduated number four in his high school class of 192 students in June 1961 and enrolled at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. At Hamline University he majored in chemistry. He received a B.S. degree cum laude with distinction in chemistry in June 1965.