Richard Vaughn Pewo was born in Clinton, OK on September 26, 1957 to Edwin Pewo and Irene Goose.
He was raised in the Hammon, OK area until he was around 13, before moving to California to live with his mother for approximately 3 years. He then returned to Hammon where he attended school.
Upon leaving school, he ventured out on his own, where he met and married the love of his life, Samie Curtis, in 1982. They remained together until his untimely death. From that union, he raised three sons, Shannon Curtis, Virgil Curtis, and Augustine Curtis, along with one daughter, Elaine Curtis. He also had one daughter from a previous relationship, Della Jolene.