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LeeAnne Locken Is Finally Spilling All of Fiancé Rich Emberlin's Secrets
There's apparently a lot we didn't know about The Real Housewives of Dallas beau.
Friendships are always shifting on The Real Housewives of Dallas, but there's at least one relationship that has been a constant in LeeAnne Locken's life: her relationship with fiancé Rich Emberlin.
Though there's been some speculation about the present state and future of the relationship this season, LeeAnne has assured The Daily Dish that this RHOD couple is as solid as ever. "He's my universe. He's everything," LeeAnne gushed during an interview in New York City at the end of September. "He's my security. He's my protector. He's my Prince Charming. He's my provider. And he's my best friend."
From the moments we've seen Rich on RHOD, we've fallen in love with him, too. In fact, we just can't get enough of the soon-to-be RHOD husband. So we asked LeeAnne to spill some secrets about her fiancé to get to know this Lone Star lad even better.
1. He Had a Dangerous Job
Rich's job was serious business. He worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, serving in the Dallas Police Department's elite units, including Dallas SWAT and the Criminal Intelligence Unit-Dignitary Protection Squad, according to the bio on his website.
Of course, it's not easy having a loved one who's in law enforcement. "His job was very dangerous, and I lived with him when all of that was going on. When we started dating, he was a SWAT officer. He'd go on call-outs, and I'd sit at home for hours, 'Is he alive? Is he dead? Is someone gonna take me to a hospital?' I mean, I was scared for the doorbell to ring," LeeAnne said. "So I understand and appreciate what the wives of our first responders go through, and I appreciate what the wives of our military personnel go through."
Rich retired from the Dallas Police Department in 2016 after suffering an eye injury that has left him permanently blind in his right eye, LeeAnne shared. He now works as an instructor for Safariland Group, teaching explosives, breaches, and dignitary protection.
2. He Had a Famous Best Friend
Rich was best friends with the late Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL who wrote the book American Sniper and who was killed in 2013. Chris was later played by Bradley Cooper in the 2014 movie American Sniper directed by Clint Eastwood.
3. You May Have Seen Him on TV Before RHOD
RHOD isn't Rich's first time on TV. You may have also seen him on Dallas SWAT and Live PD in the past.
4. He's a Family Man
One of Rich's greatest roles in life is being a dad to his 20-year-old daughter Elise Emberlin, whom fans got to meet in Season 1 of RHOD and who's currently in college in Oklahoma. "She's doing great. She's an angel. What I love about Elise is Elise is so much like her father. She's just smart, quick-witted," LeeAnne said. "Elise is fabulous."
5. Here's What He Really Thinks About RHOD
Rich's feelings about RHOD are complicated, according to LeeAnne. "He goes through his 'I like her, I don't like her. She's OK, she's not OK. He's OK, he's not OK,'" she explained. "He doesn't get too wrapped up in it. I think when you come from a world where 'oh my God' means someone's bleeding or someone's been cut or their life is in danger, when you say, 'Oh my God, she called me a bitch,' it just doesn't have the same appeal to him. So he is very good at being my balance."
Relive the romantic moment Rich proposed to LeeAnne, below.
