b'The Snake River dam in Idaho Falls, IdahoBorn in 1953in Idaho FallsBorn in 1953 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Rick grew up in a close-knit family, where laughter and music filled their home. His father, a school teacher and later a government contractor at the Idaho National Reactor Testing Station, instilled in him a relentless work ethic. His mother, a piano teacher, secretary, and full-time mother, embodied kindness and compassion. Ricks early years were shaped by the transformative events of the mid-20th century: the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Space Race. These experiences, marked by both innovation and tragedy, fostered in him a sense of independence and a de-sire to contribute to a better worldmarked by both innovation and tragedy, fostered in him a sense of independence and a desire to contribute to a better world.5'