Bolles was born in
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. He was the brother of investigative journalist
Don Bolles and of Ann Bolles Johnson. His paternal grandfather,
Stephen Bolles, was a U.S. member of Congress from Wisconsin (died 1941), and his father was for many years an editor with the
Associated Press (died 1972). and graduated from
Teaneck High School in 1945, where his yearbook described him stating "Dick's future will be scientific / But in which field he's not specific." After a brief stint in the
United States Navy, he attended
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying
chemical engineering, and
Harvard University, where he majored in physics and graduated with a B.A.,
cum laude. He attended
General Theological Seminary (Episcopal) in New York City, from which he graduated with a master's degree in New Testament studies. ==Career==