Rich was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Walnut Hills High School, the University of Cincinnati College of Liberal Arts, A.B., in 1922, and from the college of law of the same university, LL.B., in 1924. He was admitted to the bar in 1924 and commenced the practice of law in Cincinnati. He was an instructor on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati, and an assistant city solicitor and assistant prosecutor of Cincinnati from 1925 to 1929. He served three terms as prosecuting attorney of Hamilton County, Ohio, from 1938 to 1947. He served nine years in the city council of Cincinnati and served as mayor for three terms, from 1947 to 1956. He was judge of the Common Pleas Court of Hamilton County, and president and chairman of the board of the Cincinnati Royals Professional Basketball Team.
