Richard "Ric" Weiland (1953-2006) was a software developer, programmer, philanthropist, and active member of the Northwest gay community. Weiland enjoyed creating costumes and dressing up for LGBTQ parties in Seattle. This “caveman” costume included a wig, a faux leaf headband, a shell necklace, and various pieces of faux fur. Weiland was the first full-time employee hired by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 at the newly founded Microsoft company. The three were high school classmates at Lakeside School and members of the Lakeside Programming Group. Weiland retired from Microsoft in 1988 at the age of 35. As the value of his stock holdings grew, he increasingly devoted himself to philanthropy, donating nearly $200 million to support HIV research, LGBTQ legal rights, and the presence of gay-straight alliances and anti-bullying policies in schools.