THOMAS EDWIN RICKS

'Thomas Edwin Ricks' (July 21, 1828, Western Kentucky – September 28, 1901) (most commonly known as 'Thomas E. Ricks') was a Mormon churchman 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, attended the first conference of the same church and also 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 helpng 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]
He served as a stake president in the area of Rexburg.
Ricks died on September 28, 1901 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]

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1. Preserving the Memory of Thomas E. Ricks
2. Preserving the Memory of Thomas E. Ricks