Thomas E. Ricks (Mormon)

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For other persons of the same name, see Thomas E. Ricks.

Thomas Edwin Ricks (July 21, 1828, Western Kentucky – September 28, 1901) was a Mormon pioneer and community leader.

Ricks was a prominent Mormon pioneer and settler of the western United States. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age sixteen and helped in its construction of the Nauvoo Temple. At age twenty, Ricks crossed the great plains to the Salt Lake Valley and would later assist five additional times in helping other pioneers make the same trek.

Ricks was also an influential church and community leader in both Utah and Idaho. He is known as the founder of Rexburg, Idaho, and participated in the founding of Ricks College (now Brigham Young University–Idaho). This school was named in his honor for a period of 99 years (1902–2001).[1]

Ricks served as a stake president for the LDS Church in the area of Rexburg.

When Ricks died at age 73, a prominent LDS Church leader said of him at his funeral, "It may be a long time before we find another man his equal in honor, mind, and unswerving loyalty to the cause of God and his people." [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Preserving the Memory of Thomas E. Ricks (2005).
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