Born in Lexington, North Carolina, in 1908, Richard Walser was always fascinated with North Carolina's culture, literary heritage, and folklore. After completing high school, Walser attended the University of North Carolina. During his career, he taught English both at high schools and colleges. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II (1939–1945). Walser wrote and edited more than 30 books and was an active member of the North Carolina Folklore Society. He died in 1988.