Sidney Franklin Ricks Jr.

Life’s Work…Well Done

Life’s Race…Well Run

Life’s Crown…Well Worn

Oh Good and Faithful Servant, Come and Rest

Sidney “Mundy a.k.a Sid” Ricks, Jr, a retired Colonel, was a native of Hampton, VA. He was the second child born to the late Eunice Smith Ricks and Sidney Franklin Ricks, Sr.

He was a graduate of Hampton High School where he played the trombone in the marching band. Sidney received his Bachelor’s from Hampton Institute in 1973 and was a founding member of the original class of “Ogre Phi Ogre.” He received a Master’s degree from Pepperdine University.

On October 19, 1973, he officially joined the U.S. Army at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, beginning a long career in the U.S. military. Sidney served 13 years in the Army as an Active Duty Officer, including assignments at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC. From January 1986 to 2003 he served in the Army Reserve completing major assignments in patient administration and retiring from the Army Reserve as Colonel with a full twenty years of Service.

Sidney began his civilian career on May 11, 1987 at Ft. Belvoir as Chief of the Logistics Support Division in the U.S. Army Information Systems Command. As a result of his skills, expertise, and dedication to duty, the Command received numerous Logistics awards. He directed a worldwide supply support staff by providing strategic direction, budget planning, and administrative oversight. From 2006-2012 he served as a Professor in the Advance course at the Army Management Staff College at Ft. Belvoir. He retired in 2014 from the Defense Health Agency as a Senior Analyst on the Business Process Management Team.

Sidney was an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated and a founding member of two graduate chapters. He was also active in the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Hampton Alumni Association where he served as chaplain. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer, and gym goer.

Most importantly he was a friend whose smile could light up a room. He was there to offer a helping hand or an uplifting word to lighten a burden.

He leaves a loving and devoted wife of more than 50 years, Deidre McClaron Ricks; a daughter, Christina Ricks Canty; a son-in-law, Kwame Canty, and a cherished granddaughter, Parker McClaron Ricks Canty. He also leaves a sister, LaVerne Ricks-Brown, a brother Edward Anthony “Tony” Ricks Sr. and many other relatives and loving friends.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Hampton University at oaa.hamptonu.edu (love that blue and white!) or sponsor a kid for the Alexandria Fairfax VA chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi’s Kamp Kappa at https://tinyurl.com/KampKappa