Bill Ricker: Difference between revisions

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He went on to work as a freelance photojournalist in [[Birmingham]] and was among the first photographers on the scene after the [[1963 church bombing|bombing]] of [[16th Street Baptist Church]] in [[1963]]. He also photographed the newly-built [[Parliament House]] hotel in [[1964]].
He went on to work as a freelance photojournalist in [[Birmingham]] and was among the first photographers on the scene after the [[1963 church bombing|bombing]] of [[16th Street Baptist Church]] in [[1963]]. He also photographed the newly-built [[Parliament House]] hotel in [[1964]].


Ricker was hired as an executive secretary to Mayor [[George Seibels]] in [[1969]]. He then took over as executive director of [[Operation New Birmingham]], which was then headquartered at City Hall. He later served as planning director for [[United Way of Central Alabama|United Way-Community Chest of Central Alabama]].
Ricker was hired as an executive secretary to Mayor [[George Seibels]] in [[1969]]. In [[1970]] he took over as executive director of [[Operation New Birmingham]], which was then headquartered at City Hall. He later served as planning director for [[United Way of Central Alabama|United Way-Community Chest of Central Alabama]].


In [[1993]] Ricker was hired by [[Birmingham City Council]] member [[Jimmy Blake]] as an assistant and was hired in the same capacity by [[Joel Montgomery]] in [[2001]].
In [[1993]] Ricker was hired by [[Birmingham City Council]] member [[Jimmy Blake]] as an assistant and was hired in the same capacity by [[Joel Montgomery]] in [[2001]].
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Ricker died in [[2011]] after an extended illness.
Ricker died in [[2011]] after an extended illness.
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
  before=[[Dan Roper]] |
  title=[[Operation New Birmingham]] director |
  years=[[1970]]–[[1976]] |
  after=[[Norman Pless]]}}
{{end box}}


==References==
==References==
* {{King-2008}}
* Bryant, Joseph D. (October 23, 2008) "Veteran Birmingham council aide Bill Ricker calls it quits." ''Birmingham News''
* Bryant, Joseph D. (October 23, 2008) "Veteran Birmingham council aide Bill Ricker calls it quits." ''Birmingham News''
* Spencer, Thomas (January 2, 2011) "Longtime Birmingham City Hall insider Bill Ricker dies at 77." ''Birmingham News''
* Spencer, Thomas (January 2, 2011) "Longtime Birmingham City Hall insider Bill Ricker dies at 77." ''Birmingham News''

Revision as of 19:08, 2 January 2011

William E. Ricker (born c. 1933 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania; died January 2, 2011 in Birmingham) was a former photographer, executive assistant to Mayor George Seibels, and director of Operation New Birmingham

Ricker completed high school in Europe and graduated from the Industrial War College in Washington D.C. before he completed a bachelor's degree in urban studies and a master's in public administration at the University of Alabama.

He went on to work as a freelance photojournalist in Birmingham and was among the first photographers on the scene after the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963. He also photographed the newly-built Parliament House hotel in 1964.

Ricker was hired as an executive secretary to Mayor George Seibels in 1969. In 1970 he took over as executive director of Operation New Birmingham, which was then headquartered at City Hall. He later served as planning director for United Way-Community Chest of Central Alabama.

In 1993 Ricker was hired by Birmingham City Council member Jimmy Blake as an assistant and was hired in the same capacity by Joel Montgomery in 2001.

In October 2008 Ricker resigned from his position. Though he intended the resignation to become effective October 29, he was told to leave immediately upon its receipt on October 20.

Ricker died in 2011 after an extended illness.

Preceded by:
Dan Roper
Operation New Birmingham director
19701976
Succeeded by:
Norman Pless

References

  • King, Pamela Sterne (2008) 50 Years and Counting: A History of Operation New Birmingham 1957-2007. Birmingham: Operation New Birmingham
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (October 23, 2008) "Veteran Birmingham council aide Bill Ricker calls it quits." Birmingham News
  • Spencer, Thomas (January 2, 2011) "Longtime Birmingham City Hall insider Bill Ricker dies at 77." Birmingham News