Mark Ricks

For the gridiron football player, see Mark Ricks (gridiron football).

Mark Ricks
File:Mark Ricks Headshot.jpg
40th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
In office June 15, 2006 – January 1, 2007
Governor	Jim Risch
Preceded by	Jim Risch
Succeeded by	Jim Risch
Member of the Idaho Senate
In office 1979–1994
Personal details
Born	(1924-07-04)July 4, 1924 Rexburg, Idaho, U.S.
Died	September 29, 2016(2016-09-29) (aged 92) Rexburg, Idaho
Political party	Republican
Residence	Rexburg, Idaho
Alma mater	Ricks College
Profession	Farmer and Rancher

Mark George Ricks (July 4, 1924 – September 29, 2016) was a Republican politician from Idaho. He served as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho from June 2006 to January 2007.

Early Political Career

Ricks introduction to politics occurred in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s when he served as a Republican Precinct Committeeman. Although he was already very active in his church’s leadership and well respected throughout eastern Idaho, he earned the distinction of being a key regional leader during the 1976 collapse of the Teton Dam. Because of his religious position at the time of the collapse, he was put in charge of the recovery effort for the entire impacted area. Ricks was nationally recognized for his leadership in organizing the successful recovery effort.

At the urging of the Idaho Speaker of the House and many other prominent citizens, in 1978 he ran for, and was elected to, the Idaho State Senate, serving his first term in 1979-1980. As a freshman Senator he was chosen to serve on the powerful Joint Finance Committee. This period also marks the beginning of the friendship and collaboration between Ricks and Jim Risch, as Risch was serving as Senate Majority Leader at the time.

Ricks served in the State Senate with many of Idaho’s most influential leaders. As a former seatmate of Larry Craig, Ricks in known for commenting that Craig taught him to be a State Senator, and that “I had some influence on him, to prepare him to become a US Congressman.”

During his second term in the State Senate he served as the Chairman of the Commerce and Labor Committee, and in his third term he was surprised and honored to be nominated and elected Senate Majority Leader, with Jim Risch serving as the President Pro Tem of the Senate. During his tenure as Senate Majority Leader he also worked with Mike Crapo, who served as the Assistant Majority Leader.

In 2002 Governor Dirk Kempthorne appointed Ricks to the Blue Ribbon Task Force in 2002, where he served has a member of the Revenue and Economic Development Committee.

40th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho

Ricks was appointed lieutenant governor by Governor Jim Risch to fill a vacancy caused by Risch's succession to the governorship in May 2006. He was succeeded by Risch, who was reelected lieutenant governor in November 2006. Ricks was not a candidate for public office that year. Ricks' appointment was seen by some as an effort by Risch to reach out to voters in the Eastern Idaho region should Risch decide to run for governor at some point in the future. However Risch dismissed this as "pure speculation."

Personal Life

Ricks was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Evelyn Tonks in 1944 at the Logan, Utah Temple. He served in several church leadership positions. He was a stake president in Rexburg during the 1976 Teton Dam failure and played a key role in local disaster relief efforts. He died on September 29, 2016 in Rexburg at the age of 92.

Awards and Community Involvement

Awards

• Induction to the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1989
• Named as one of ten nationally Outstanding Legislators by the National Republican Legislators Association in 1987
• Recipient of the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce Community Service Production and Example Award in 1976
• Recipient of the Madison School District #321 Outstanding Service Award in 1987
• Recipient of the Ricks College Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988
• Outstanding Republican Legislator- 1991 by the Bonneville County Republicans.
• Silver Beaver Award from Boy Scouts of America in 1998
• Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce in 2007

Community Involvement

• Member of the Executive Board of the Teton Peaks Council (merged into Grand Teton Council in 1994) of the Boy Scouts of America
• Member of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Executive Committee from 1985-1987 (also chaired the NCSL Nominating Committee)
• Idaho Wheat Growers member
• National Federation of Independent Businesses member
• Rexburg Chamber of Commerce member

Legacy

Senator Jim Risch issued this statement when Ricks passed away in 2016: "Vicki and I were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our good friend Mark Ricks. In the years we served together in the Idaho Senate, I came to know Mark as a man of great character and a loyal friend. When I became Governor I was required to appoint a Lieutenant Governor who would succeed me should I be unable to serve. I could think of no better person than Mark to fulfill that obligation. Mark was a gentleman and a statesman and his reputation for trustworthiness was legendary. He was more than a friend; he was a trusted confidant and advisor to me. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Senator Mike Crapo said “Idaho has lost a great leader,I had a great working relationship with Mark Ricks in the Idaho Senate and as lieutenant governor. His passion for serving Idahoans and attention to legislative detail is what I will remember most.”