Bill Ricker

William E. Ricker (born c. 1933 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. 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-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.

References

• 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