Richard Francis Ross was born April 30, 1935 in Washington, Iowa. He received his D.V.M. (1959), M.S. (1960) in veterinary bacteriology, and Ph.D. (1965) in veterinary bacteriology from Iowa State University.

Ross began his career at Iowa State as a Research Associate (1959-1961) in the Veterinary Medical Research Institute (VMRI). He accepted a position as Operating Manager (1961-1962) at Veterinary Laboratories, Inc. in Remsen, Iowa. Ross returned to Iowa State as an Assistant Professor (1962-1965) in the Iowa Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. After he received his Ph.D., he accepted a Postdoctoral Fellowship (1965-1966) at the National Institutes of Health. Ross again returned to Iowa State as an Assistant Professor (1964-1968). He was promoted to Associate Professor (1968-1972), Professor (1972-present), and Professor-in-Charge (1985-1990) of the VMRI. He became Associate Director of VMRI and Associate Dean (1990-1992) of the College of Veterinary Medicine. He was made interim Dean (1992-1993) of the College and was then named Dean (1993-2000). Ross was also named interim Dean (2000) of the College of Agriculture and became Dean (2000-2002). He stepped down to resume duties as a Professor (2002-present) this time in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine. Beginning in 2002, Ross began phased retirement from Iowa State.

Ross’s main areas of research include Pasteurella and mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine. The research consists of working to improve methods for induction of P. multocida pneumonia in swine and to improve growth of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in the laboratory.

Ross has received numerous awards and honors for excellence in veterinary medicine, including being named Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor in Veterinary Medicine (Iowa State University) (1982); Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology; and Honorary Master Pork Producer, Iowa Pork Producers Association (1985). He also received a Faculty Citation, Iowa State University Alumni Association; Beecham Award for Research Excellence (1985); Award for Personal and Professional Excellence, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1996); Presidents Award, Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (1988); the Howard Dunne Memorial Award, American Association of Swine Practitioners (1988); and the Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta (2002).

In addition, Ross has belonged to various professional organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, American Association of Swine Practitioners, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and International Organization for Mycoplasmology. He is also a member of several honorary societies, including Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Phi Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, Osborn Research Club (Iowa State University), and Sigma Xi.