Rickey and I and Bob Cargo were best friends in high school. We went every where together. He lived in Bluff Park with his parents and two brothers. After he graduated he worked many years for Birmingham Battery Wholesale. He knew everything about batteries. After he retired he got a job as a school bus driver for Shelby County. His kids (route) were from Helena Elementary school. They loved Mr. Martin. Rickey died of a heart attack in 2007.

I didn't know Rickey in high school, but I knew Debbe's sisters. I was in class of 1971. My husband and I own a dance studio in Pelham. We have presented The Nutcracker every year in Pelham since 2005. Rickey, and his wife Debbe, were instrumental in getting our first performances going. Rickey was "the wind beneath the wings" of the Mother Ginger character who was rolled out in a huge skirt with little children running out from under it. Debbe helped us to get our first Mother Ginger, Mayor Bobby Hayes and the tradition of city administrators lives on to this day. I will never forget how funny and kind Rickey always was. We will always remember him and miss him!