David L. Rickard

On May 14th, David L. Rickard died unexpectedly at his Little Rock home. Born in 1939 in Logansport, Indiana, to Thomas and Katherine Rickard, Dave graduated from high school in Cincinnati, Ohio and continued his education at DePauw University. While working for the Federal Aviation Administration, he earned a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School, Harvard University in 1972. Arriving in Arkansas in 1982, Dave was passionate about civil rights and social justice, serving as a policy advisor and advocate for free speech, maternal and child health, and the separation of church and state. He served as President of the Central Arkansas Library System, Secretary of the state ACLU, and President of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Little Rock. In 2002, he was named Civil Libertarian of the year by the ACLU of Arkansas. In his recent years, he was a staunch supporter of the Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and served as its President. He was spiritual advisor to death-row inmate Kenneth Reams, and visited him at least monthly for the last decade. Dave is survived by his sons, Kenneth and Michael; his grandchildren, Sophia and Elijah; his sister MaryAnn Erson; and Judy, his wife of 15 years. A service to celebrate a life well-lived is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Little Rock on Reservoir Road. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Endowment Fund (1818 Reservoir Road, Little Rock 72227); the Central Arkansas Library System (101 South Rock, Little Rock 72201); or the Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty in care of the ACLU (904 West 2nd Street, Little Rock 72114). Please visit Mr. Rickard's online guestbook at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.