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 Todd
Michael Ricks
Glynn
County Fire Department
Born: 1958 Died:
December 5, 2001
Todd
Michael Ricks, 43, of Brunswi ck and Woodbridge, Va., died
Wednesday, December 5, 2001 at his residence in Brunswick.
Funeral
services will be held Monday, December 10, 2001 at 11 a.m. from
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with Father Cletus Pifer and
Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo officiating. Burial to follow at
Memory Gardens Cemetery. The White House is flying the American
Flag in honor of Todd at half-staff and a memorial service will
be held at a later date in Washington D.C.
Visitation
will be held Sunday, December 9, 2001 at Chapman Funeral Chapel,
2031 Cate Road, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Pallbearers
are Mike Maloy, Reid Harris, Charlie Jenks, Fred Jaudon, Tim
Barton, Randy Cauthen, Brent Monagan, Joe Sousa, Mark Spaulding
and George Davis.
Honorary
pallbearers are Mark Clark, Ken Runyan, Johnny Paulk, Ken Plyman,
Mitchell Bronfman, Misty Oelhafen, Glynn County Fire Department,
U.S. Park Police and the Harley Davidson Police Fleet Sales.
Survivors
include his wife, Dory Bridgwood Ricks; two sons, Manet Matthew
Ricks and Michael Ferman Ricks, both of Woodbridge; twin
daughters, Sara Virginia Ricks and Samantha Dorothy Ricks of
Woodbridge; parents, Ferman O. and Virginia L. Ricks of
Brunswick; two brothers, Greg C. Ricks of Savannah and Cory A.
Ricks of Brunswick; a sister, Jeri R. Sweeney of Brunswick;
several nieces; nephews; and cousins.
Todd
was born and raised in Glynn County and was a graduate of
Brunswick High School. Upon graduation, he worked for the Glynn
County and Jekyll Island Fire Departments as an EMT. Later, he
worked for the United States Park Police in Washington D.C.,
relocating to Woodbridge, Va. He was promoted to Sergeant, the
position he held until the time of his death. In 2001, Todd was
elected Cop of the Year in the United States and was part of the
lead motorcade for the last four Presidents of the United
States. He served on the National Police Week Planning
Committee, Make a Wish Foundation, National Coach's Association,
National Safety Board and was a Certified Arson Investigator.
Todd
was very dedicated to the organization C.O.P.S. Kids (Concerns
of Police Survivors) which provides support to the families of
fallen law enforcement officers. Because of his time spent on
this organization, the Todd Ricks Award for Volunteerism was
developed. It will be presented to the top volunteer during
Police Week on
Mother's Day every year. The plaque, which is housed in
Missouri, includes Todd's picture on his Park Police motorcycle
in front of the Washington Monument. A smaller version of the
plaque that was presented to Todd reads: "The Inaugural
Presentation of the Todd Ricks Award for Volunteerism to the
organization of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. is presented
to Todd Ricks, a Motorcycle Sergeant with the United States Park
Police in Washington D.C. For several years, Todd Ricks has
dedicated his life to aiding and assisting law enforcement
survivors during National Police Week activities. His efforts
make National Police Week the special event it has become for
the surviving families of America's fallen law enforcement
officers. Todd is instrumental in raising money for C.O.P.S.
Kids activities through the Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle
Safety Rodeos and puts his life on the line leading motor
escorts for every National Police Week activity every year. Todd
Ricks is a man whose efforts for law enforcement survivors will
be remembered into perpetuity. He is an officer and man whose
volunteerism always goes above and beyond the call of duty when
dealing with surviving families."
Todd
was awarded numerous commendations including three Congressional
awards, 30 Chief awards and 30 plus Citizen awards. He was a
member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church where he also
served as altar boy.
The
family requests that memorial donations be made to the Hospice
of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, Ga., 31525
and Concerns of Police Survivors, P.O. Box 3199, South Highway
5, Camdenton, Mo, 65020.
Chapman
Funeral Chapel is in charge
of arrangements.
The
Brunswick News, December 7, 2001
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