DISQUS

The Daily Wit · 1 year ago

Some quick questions/observations about Ricky:
1. Did anyone ever actually see Ricky drive a vehicle?
2. Did Ricky own a cassette or CD? We always knew the same songs, but I never saw him buy or possess any music.
3. Other than Waffle House or IHOP at 3 a.m., did Ricky consume food?
4. Ricky went from being the worse pool player I had ever seen to being one of the best, and there was no middle ground or progression. It just happened.
5. At least 1/4 to 1/3 of the jokes or funny things that you Coast people heard Ricky say or saw him do, he stole from me.
6. At least 1/4 to 1/3 of the jokes or funny things that you Jackson people heard me say or saw me do, I stole from Ricky.
7. Considering Nos. 5 & 6, that's why you saw an increase in deja vu when Ricky and I were together.
8. How long did it take you to remember what Ricky looked like before the Stone Cold look?

hicker · 1 year ago

1. saw him try to drive a huge front end loader near Bayou Pierre with J Long yelling, "Ricky, get down off that right now!"
2. saw him buy Faith No More cassette
3. million tons of krystals, chili (and yer phone number.)
4. could play the hell out of some fooseball too
5. this comment sounds just like Dave Reed
6. did you or Ricky say, "that's what your mama said last night when i was shaving her back"
7. wish you were the one with him the night of the caffeteria robbery not me
8. how about when he grew a jeremiah johnson beard and hair and passed by Doc Quick in the hallway and said, "what's up dick-head?"

I got lots of stories, but likely very few that you haven't heard or were not involved in.

Carla · 1 year ago

Thank you for making me laugh out loud today!

#8 - You know, there's always that old school image of Ricky in my mind when I think of him.

supercynic · 1 year ago

Regarding No. 6, that may have been a combo. I may have been going around saying, "That's what your mama said last night." And Ricky thought, "Hmm. That would be much funnier if you were shaving her back."

No. 7: I was the one who talked Ricky into turning himself in. He came up to my room and we talked for a while and I remember the clincher was telling him, "Do you really think they don't know who you are?" Now, I wish I hadn't b/c Doc Quick and the other members of the SS were so unforgiving: College kids broke into the cafeteria throwing frozen hamburger patties at the security guards feet as they flee. Oh my at the lawlessness.

Keep telling those stories, I'm not the only one reading.

Carla, what's the old school image? God's honest truth: 1st day of class our freshman year, we had biology together and he walked in -- late -- with long hair and the '80s multi-layered clothing look going and I thought to myself, "Man, they'll let anybody in this school."

hicker · 1 year ago

i am trying to remember one story, but the details are fuzzy. i remember getting woken up one week night by a call from Ricky about 1am. He was whispering, and I could hear big B in the background hooping and talking smack. Ricky says, or whispers "M-A-T-T....grab some guys and come to the Highway 80 lounge (or was it Pop a Top?). Me and Brian are in some trouble and need some back up." So, I stumble out of bed and start walking down the 4th floor knocking on doors. In hind sight, one might wonder why I didn't even give it a second thought as to whether or not to ignore his call, but at the time, when Ricky calls, you go, because if nothing else, you are bound to get a good story out of it. Anyway, I was only able to get one taker, the chisled, lean, mean fighting machine, Dave Reed. So, Dave and I take off, and I'm thinking, we are just bringing more punching bag material, but oh well. Unfortunately, what happened when we got there is where it gets fuzzy. All I can remember is the place looked like a dump, and there were alot of tatoos and black leather, and Big B was up in some dudes grill. I also remember something about Big B and a Q-ball. Supercynic, maybe you can take it from here.

supercynic · 1 year ago

hicker -- let me do a quick mental Google search for the keywords "Ricky, pool, bar, fight." I'm coming up with about 47 hits. The q-ball helps me though. That was the night we decided to go to the Pop-a-Top b/c we'd never been in there before. It was truly a dump, and it was truly a place for "regulars" and not college kids who could also play pool and win beer. All I remember is some horse's ass refusing to pay up after we won and then the bartender conveniently chiming in that they don't allow no gamblin', so his buddy didn't haff to pay up. (This bartender had no teeth.) Ricky said, "Well, we'll just take this q-ball then" and walked out. You would have thought he had taken one of these guys' car keys (to a Transmaro) or something. About 4 dudes jumped up and I just happened to be between them and the door. Any smack-talking I was doing was nothing but survival mode--kind of like the puffer fish. The fact that we all left that place w/out getting killed is proof there's a God. Thankfully, one of this regulars wasn't
this guy.

Carla · 1 year ago

The Spicoli look is old school for sure! When he was wearing it a little shorter than that with the occassional goatee or some sort of scruff...from a late night out. That's my old school image.

Ray Crosby · 1 year ago

You forgot one.

Has anyone ever remained friends with every x-girlfriend you ever had?

Mattina · 1 year ago

I want to start by saying I was not at Krystal the night this happened. But, according to the sources (Jana and Lauren), this is an event that is burned into their memories only called up when a girl really just needs to laugh.

After a late night of drinking and doing whatever else people on double dates do, Rick, Jana, Lauren and Ted went to Krystal on Hwy 80. After pulling into the parking lot via Metrocenter in Jana's blue Camaro, the foursome rode in circles for three minutes and the car was gently parked. They went into Krystal to eat and talk about people (Jana and Lauren to use the bathroom and giggle). After destroying food and furnishings, Lauren noticed that Ricky had not returned from a bathroom break. Upon mentioning this to Jana and Ted, they were alarmed by the noise and flash of color from the parking lot. When they looked out of the huge glass windows onto the parking lot, there was Ricky driving a mosquito truck...you know with the pseudo siren on top and the DDT smoke pouring from the back. In circles he drove and every time he passed the window, he just smiled (you know the one) and waved. Just like on the tilt-a-whirl at the county fair.

hicker · 1 year ago

Matina - good one. One that I always wished I could have witnessed but some how, could so easily visualize, that i almost felt like i was there.

Big B - tell the one about flooding Ratilff. I am pretty sure you were in on it. I have heard several retellings, but don't think i have ever heard an account from a first-hand person. To jog your memory, it involved going swimming in the shower and beer.

supercynic · 1 year ago

Ray -- you nailed that one. I can't even get my current girlfriend (my wife) to be my friend. Ricky stayed in touch with anyone he ever went out with.

Mattina -- you had me laughing on the floor. If I had tried that, the keys wouldn't have been in the truck, it wouldn't have started, or the owner would have come out and beat me up. Only Ricky had the stars align every time he pulled a stunt like that.

hicker -- I'm using parts of my brain that have been shut off for years. The Great Ratliff Flood of 1989 started when Ricky and I decided, while sitting around our dorm room, that we wanted a jacuzzi. So, it made perfect sense for us to take a door off its hinges to block the shower room so that the water would stay in and create a nice warm pool. It worked too as long as the showers were running. After about a 6 pack I noticed that the water level wasn't rising. Ricky looked at the door and deadpanned, "Oh shit."

The water had been running out through a small crack between the door and the tiled step over. We weren't exactly Bob Vila on this project. As we tried to stop the leak, one of us knocked over the ice chest and Beast cans started floating all around us. We walked out into the hall and the carpet was soaking wet. Ratliff had somewhat of a lean to it so all the water was flowing into a Civitan's room at the other end of the hall -- the guy who always sang operatic in the shower leading Ricky and me to walk around singing, "I love to sing. I love to sing. La la" when we were around him.

So, the carpet is soaked, there are Beast cans floating everywhere b/c the door has now fallen over unleashing a Noah-era size torrent. We decide to make the most of it and start doing slip-n-slides down the hallway. Ricky slid all the way into the back wall and practically gave himself a concussion. The Civitan guy finally woke up, saw his room was flooded and came out and asked us what was going on. We both were stupid enough to act like we didn't know what he was talking about. When that position became untenable, we then blamed it on a shower leak and said we had called the janitor. "The leak must have been caused by all these beer cans floating around. Alcohol is so evil." Unbelievably, this guy didn't turn us in. What a night.

Jessica · 1 year ago

Of all the stories that I have heard a million times, I can not belive that I have never heard the mosquito truck story.... I would love to have been there for that one. Circling vechiles acutally reminds me of the first 24 hours that I met Ricky... I met Ricky at a St Patty's day parade and we hit it off so well that I invited him over to a friends house for dinner. After many hours of drinking, shaving his head(for the first time that is) and encountering Ricky's version of the Silence of the Lamb dance, I woke up to Ricky riding around my friends yard on a lawn mower with coke bottle glasses on, a motorcycle helmet and a BB gun. What was he doing with the BB
gun, you ask?? He was shooting at signs that read " VOTE for Aido" and pictured a black man w/ a really large fro.....

Most people can say, there was never a dull moment when Ricky was around.....

ashley peden kremer · 1 year ago

i just want to say this is everything i wanted when i requested stories at ricky's funeral and NONE of his friends delivered (you bunch of slackers). i know you all thought - i'd heard them a thousand times (and i had) -- but it is so great hearing/reading them again. i've forwarded this site to some friends that you may not have sent the email to, b -- i promise you there's some good stories to come. what a jackass...god i miss him.

ashley peden kremer · 1 year ago

here's one i just thought of - one night a bunch of us were out in biloxi and on our way home we decided to stop at this gay bar on the beach -- it had dance music -- the girls were fired up (drunk), the guys were in hell (can we please just get to waffle house) -- so i make ricky dance with me...i'm going to stop here - because anyone who knew ricky knew the following three things: ricky HATED to dance, ricky COULDN'T dance, and ricky loved me. it was the latter that made him hit the floor with me that night. so we're dancing - ricky's doing his usual side-to-side foot action combined with the white man fist punch - i'm doing god-knows-what but i'm sure in my drunken state i thought i was looking all right when i look over and see that there's a lesbian couple dancing beside us. now in this moment you might think that ricky's noticing this too - but you have to remember he was DANCING - when ricky was dancing he had that fake smile plastered on his face and he was really consentrating (left...fist punch...right...fist punch...) so i noticed the lipstick of the two was wearing a skimpy halter top - one string up top, one string around the back....without thinking (i guess it runs in the family)...i pulled the top string loose AND WALKED OFF THE DANCE FLOOR. this is what followed - the lipstick was immediately exposed as her top fell to her waist, she turned around to only find ricky standing there (left...fist punch...right...fist punch), ricky looked up stunned for a few reasons - 1) he was looking at a pair of t*ts 2) he realized i had left him alone on the dance floor 3) there was the fist of the lipstick's not-so-lipstick girlfriend coming right toward his face. needless to say - we had to leave. immediately. when we got to the car (breathless) ricky was like wtf ashley (as he covered his bruised eye)!!!???! i said - i don't know - the string was there i just did it. he didn't stay angry for very long -- the next stop was waffle house -- i paid for his bert's chili and we called it even.

dorcik · 1 year ago

shoe!!! I didn't know about this, have I got some stories, and maybe I can now start letting some of them out, oh yea Ricky and me first drunk together, "where the hell is my leather jacket", or Vegas, "damn your back is hairy" or "Dorcik need you", "your a black belt", gee guess where that is going !!!

ashley peden kremer · 1 year ago

all right -- bk's promised a couple of stories...but bk i have a couple of questions/requests...the story(ies)of when y'all were in mexico -- i don't think it was when y'all were in the beer olympics, but i'm not sure (this couldn't have all taken place in one weekend) --- ricky emptying your backpack at papas and beer, ricky bringing in the "heavy" empty beer cases for replacement, y'all breaking into the condos in mexico to sleep for the night, ricky at the border crossing (that's all the prompting i need to give you for that story)....fill in the blanks - and by all means...the story of the answering machine while he was in jail...........

hicker · 1 year ago

ashley,

i was going to tell a Ricky answering machine/jail story, then i saw your post. Are there multiple stories (with both answering machine calls and jail...not just jail, which i am guessing would narrow it down that much)? I still can't figure out who BK is. Any hints?

supercynic · 1 year ago

Speaking of jail, one night Ted B., Dave R., Ricky and I, ended up at Krystal's. For whatever reason, cops showed up and arrested only Ted for public drunk. Dave, Ricky, and I proceeded to the jail to bail him out. Of course, we had no money and couldn't so we asked to see him. He showed up at the little glass with the phone and we took turns talking to him figuring this would at least keep him out of the drunk tank and lessen his chances of becoming some guy's girlfriend. At some point, Dave and I decided that it would be appropriate to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot over and over and over. The nightshift cop made us leave, so we all started roaming the halls and taking pictures and plaques off the walls for souvenirs.

When we could carry no more stolen stuff from the police department, I decided to have a little sit down in the bathroom. After a couple of minutes, the lights went out. I knew it was Ricky and Dave playing a trick and I said the usual haha very funny. The in the pitch black darkness I heard and felt this loud "whoosh." Suddenly, I couldn't breathe. I wiped as fast as I could while all the while choking to death. I finally made it out the door without passing out to find Ricky holding a fire extinguisher and a big smile.

I was covered in white fire extinguisher dust. I looked like Father Time. I started cussing him out, which only made it funnier to him and Dave. A cop walked passed the hall, did a double take, and kept walking; just shaking his head like, "I ain't gettin' involved in that crap."

hicker · 1 year ago

From early on after meeting Ricky, I wondered quietly how Ricky seemed to live such a rich, fun filled life but a life that also involved spending lots of money, of which it seemed pretty apparent he did not have a steady supply. I pretty quickly passed it off as simply, Ricky was a master "survivor". A few years later, my hypothesis (hunch) was confirmed at Bennigan's resturant. I had been waiting tables at Bennigans for a few months, when one night Ricky says, hey Matt, think you can help me get a job there? Once again, not hesitating, I said sure, I'll try. So, I give Ricky a glowing recommendation, and he gets hired the very next day (actually, my recommendation meant zero, as i later realized they would hire anyone). Ricky's first day he gets paired with the head waiter as his trainer, a guy who had been working there for years and everyone knew had regular customers and was tipped very well (and who also thought Ricky had a nice *&@?). It was a slow lunch, and I kept passing Ricky and his trainer, and Ricky looked such the "eager beaver", hustling and looking all in the weeds. I'm feeling kind of superior, thinking i am a pretty big shot in that i helped "Ricky Peden" get this job and when work is over, I will count my earnings and have more than enough to take Ricky (my new protege) out to have a celebratory drink and offer to buy his, since everyone knew that your first week or so, tips are terrible (your new, your trainer gets a cut, etc., etc.). Well, we get finished and I say, "let's go get a beer". Ricky counts his money up and says, "*%$#*& that! Let's go get some steaks! I just made $230 bucks, R-A-C-K em!!!!!!!!"

I then followed Ricky to wherever he took me, once again content to be back in my role as lowly follower, simply happy to be in his company.

sully · 1 year ago

I always thought the reason Ricky was friends with all of his ex-girlfriends is because he never actually broke up with anyone...

My favorite story is from the 27th Ave. Bistro days and the couple who broke up at dinner... it is a classic I will retell when I have more time!

Ray Crosby · 1 year ago

Sully, you can't bring up 27th Ave. Bistro without a mention of the chaps and thong. The mental picture turns my stomach to this day. Only Ricky.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

As long as someone has mentioned thong, let me lead in that it was a smiley face thong, meant to be worn by a pre-teen girl. I think Ricky wore it b/c he wasn't shocking people enough anymore by simply dropping trou.

Now in answer to the question above.

1. Ricky once drove me Jackson in the LeBaron. Mrs. Daisy could have driven herself there faster. I never let him drive again on any trip longer than two blocks. I'm sure that was intentional on his part. Soon even that was too far. I really should let Nicole explain how someone can total a car on a trip of less than 30 yards as she was the passenger. But trust me, it can be done.

2. Don't know about "owning" music but Ricky did possess at least one recording. I know this because he was blaring it out his car's open windows as he slowwwwlllly drove out of my neighborhood.....at 2 am on a Wednesday morning. As far we could tell from our hiding place under the covers, the song was "Back that Ass" or something similarly inappropriate. Did I mention that Ricky's "car" had been parked in the street in front of my house since the previous Friday?

3. Waffle House at 3 am was definitely the main time to strap on the feed bag. Often Ricky took care of the other end of that equation there too. Usually in the girl's bathroom while reading a newspaper or Penny Pincher.

4. Ricky was a very good pool player. But there was a tipping point in most evenings beyond which he couldn't make anything. This usually brought on an increase in smack talk and the chances of a "pants off" night. Sometimes the tipping point was reached before the pool game started. I once looked up from racking our first game of the night just in time to see Ricky whack some guy at the bar with a pool stick.

Austin & Edna Hill · 1 year ago

Ricky was the only person I knew who could order Miso "Horny" Soup with a straight face. Everytime my wife and I dine at a sushi bar we always joke about Ricky and his Miso Horny soup orders.

sully · 1 year ago

You guys should mention that the tight yellow smiley face thong was accessorized with black leather chaps, and one of those long tee shirts that has a tuxedo printed on the front... he wore this "outfit" to the Prince concert where he informed some sistas that he was the "backup" rhythm guitarist, and it was his off night. It was definately hard to be anywhere near him that night!

sully · 1 year ago

As for my favorite 27th Ave. Bistro story, this is the best of my recollection, anyone else who remembers, feel free to fill in the blanks:

Ricky was sitting at the bar as usual on a fairly slow night. There was a couple sitting at a table nearby, they were arguing, and the young lady was getting the best of her man. Having heard enough, the guy got up from the table and stormed out of the restaurant. So the girl was now sitting alone at her table, and after a few minutes, Ricky called the house phone from his cell phone and asked to speak with her. (He did not know the couple, but had picked up their names while listening to their converstion)

When she answered, Ricky pretended to be her boyfriend, and told her "Mary, its Scott, I have to be honest, I have been keeping a secret from you. I am having an affair. I am in love with my best friend, Todd. He is more of a lover than you will ever be"

At this point, the girl holds the phone down and yells out to everyone in the restaurant, "My boyfriend is a damn queer! He is cheating on me with his best friend! He just told me his is a fag!" So of course, Ricky keeps the gag going and she is completely falling for it. The whole time the girl is cussing him out and repeatedly calling him a fag. (among other things, but I am trying to keep the story as clean as possible)

So at some point, Neill McInnis, who is well known for his acts of chivalry, intervened and grabbed the phone from her and started yelling at the guy to "get his queer ass back up there and he would beat the crap out of him, etc..." at which point Ricky had to let out a "CA-CAAAAAAAAAW" and wave at Neill so he would shut up.

The girl never figured out that it was Ricky on the phone and not her ex. I am sure that poor guy had a hell of a time trying to convince her that he did not call her, was not gay, and was not having an affair with his best friend! I can only imagine how many people the girl called and told about it before the guy found out!

Classic Peden!

hicker · 1 year ago

Not sure who all is reading these, so I'll throw out a story that I can't recall all the details, and maybe someone who can will fill it in. The scene was Bill's gay bar in Jackson. It involved Ricky slapping some diva's ass and getting literally thrown out. Seems like a shoe was involved too, but not sure how. Maybe that was another story. Ricky's easily removed slip-ons always seemed to fold into his adventures some how.

Am loving these stories. Makes me wonder if there may be an endless supply.

Ashley Sikes Herrington · 1 year ago

OK, I can't let this go by without posting at least one - happening to be one of the most entertaining nights of my life. Refer to APKremer's story about Ricky and dancing. Well, I convinced him to do so too at the Voodoo Groove - Grand Gulfport. THE MOST HYSTERICAL DANCING I'd ever encountered - by both of us. There was the famous ankle grab/thrust - Ricky better at this than me - then, since we were at a resort, we had lots of "older" ladies on the floor. Ricky slaps some booties, I coerce some old farts, then our plan comes together - a party train. And it went over like nobody's bidness. ALL OVER THAT BAR - Ricky in front, me holding onto him, and every coot there joining that train. SO hysterical. Meanwhile, copying Kremer again, our other boys, miserable, standing in a corner while we were busting our best moves to Usher and the like.

I always said Brian and Ricky combined made my perfect husbad...cuz Ricky would dance with me at stupid bars and make me coffee and breakfast (no offense there B). And yes, lets quote Ashley once more - what a jackass he was, but the best jackass I ever knew- and I miss him like crazy.

Jessica · 1 year ago

It is amazing to me that Ricky hated to dance so much but he somehow seemed to make such a spectacle of himself when he did actually dance.... I recall one late night while cousin Justin was in town we ended up at one of those dance clubs on the beach. I am pretty sure that we were the only light skinned folks in the bar and Ricky and Justin managed to get the attention of everyone in the bar. At first I was not sure what was going on but then I realized that the two of them had actually made their way up on the stage and were dancing in sync, as if they had rehearsed for hours.. Of course I thought that was bad enough until body parts started to show.. They never actaully took their shirts off but had them contoured in such a way that their bellies and chests ( hairy chest in Ricky case) were showing. I was sure that we were about to see some silence of the lamb action but they were kicked off stage and soon out of the bar..... How I miss those days....

hicker · 1 year ago

How about quick lists of things you remember Ricky stealing or helping Ricky steal while out on the town: Here is just a few that come to my mind:

stuffed racoon
pool sticks (2)
large potted plant
mounted turkey feathers and feet
spatula
employee of the month plaque
many, many donuts
some dude's car (actually that may have just been DR and another shady character unnamed)
some dude's motor home
some dude
hamburger patties
miller lite neon sign
motor cycle helmet

supercynic · 1 year ago

2 pool sticks, several fifths of vodka, and 2 chairs from that cruddy little bar by the railroad tracks in Gulfport that became Snowden's or something like that. In 1987, it was named something else.

ALL of the ferns from Kiefer's in Jackson b/c they fired him.

Numerous plaques and pictures from the Jackson Police Department

Every single piece of "artwork" that hung in the Clinton Krystal's

3 cheese pizzas from a Domino's, but an employee caught Ricky and made him give them back, so that may not count

Entrance to about 20 concerts and festivals--the highlight being The Hoard Tour concert on Mud Island in Memphis. That was a hard one and a stand alone story. I like to think of it as our Ocean's Eleven caper.

A "This House Protected By Brinks Security" sign that we then placed atop a blues bar in west Jackson--seemed funny at the time.

Brian Keith Bencz (B.K.) · 1 year ago

This story is long overdue and perhaps (somewhat)uncirculated due to the fact that it happened in Baja Mexico in 1989. Classic Ricky time and place.

While drinking at a bar on the beach in Rosarito Mexico I was told by the bartender that they were going to be having the 1st annual 'Beer Olympics'. The set up was teams comprised of 3 men and 1 woman competing in 3 days of events that all included beer drinking as a primary component of each challenge. I got a quick rundown of what was planned..tug of war (each loser guzzles a pitcher) arm wrestling (loser drinks) beach volley ball (each loser drinks) as well as events that can't be named such as the 'guzzle a beer, run an obstacle course on foot,then race a mule down the beach, guzzle second beer and tag team mate'...and finally a bikini contest (if Ricky would have had the smiley face thong at that time we wouldn't have needed the girl).

I paid the registration fee and entered team 'Belly Down, Butt Greased' and immidiately hauled ass back to California and called Ricky to inform him of his good fortune, he was the ringer for team BDBG. Olympic gold awaited him.

Day one of beer olympics: Ricky and I arrived in Baja with a 3 man 1 girl team and an entourage of at least 8 other friends,book one hotel room, and head to the beach bar. Ricky soon gets tired or bored of paying the .75 cents a beer at the bar and talks me into loading my back pack up with bottles of Corona and sneaking them in.......here is where the planets align again for Ricky as they always did (as in the hi-jacking of the mosquito truck). As I was coming back in through the gate of the fenced in beach compound with my Jan Sport full of Peden stuffed Coronas I got stopped by security. Ricky was watching from inside the fenced in area just inside the entry. The security guard proceeded to pull the beers out of my back pack one by one, reaching back (but not looking back) and placing them on a crappy wooded table by the entry. Each and every time he set a beer down Ricky reached through the vertical pickets of the fence and grabbed it. When the guy finished pulling the 12 or so beers out he finally turned around to see nothing. Seriously he looked like he wanted to slap his face in bewilderment like Shemp on the 3 stooges.

After a long night of 'training' and watching Ricky collect every empty bottle he could find and throw it over the fence and out of the beach club compound (where he would run out and collect them for a future high return value, story pending) we headed back to our hotel room. We were one door away from our room that was filled with at least eight drunken bodies when Ricky noticed that a small vent window on the room next door was open. It took Ricky about 30 seconds to pull the screen out and wiggle through the window and open the door for me. Once inside we noticed that someone had left the key on the T.V. Ricky put it in his pocket and we each sprawled out on a bed (for the four nights we were there we went back to that room every night, Ricky luck again....it was vacant EVERY night) meanwhile the room we rented was 3 to a bed, 1 on the floor, and a person in the bathtub. Ricky told them that we were getting just getting lucky with the ladies when they asked where we were in the morning.

Back to the part about Ricky throwing the bottles out of the beach compound (he also threw out empty cardboard cases). I was in the Corona store turning in a couple cases of hi-jacked emptys for a hefty $6.00 return fee each (cost of a case of Corona was $12.00) when Ricky walked in through the front door holding a case, and walking like it was filled with concrete. I knew we didn't have any other beer, full or empty, so I was thinking 'what the hell is he doing'? Ricky proceeded to walk past the return counter, all haunched over, huffing and puffing, carrying his case of who the hell knows what. The girl at the counter briefly looked at him...then she looked at me...I just shrugged my shoulders, and she went back to getting me the money. It was then that I saw Ricky quickly take his case of who knows what and place it on the top of a stack of Corona cases, then grab a new case. The counter girl finished with me and walked over to Ricky who said something like "I want to el re-turnio these bottle-ios". As the counter girl opened up the case to count the empties that Ricky had brought back she again looked at him like 'what the hell'? (she didn't speak english) Ricky looked down at his newly substituted case of full Coronas and said "Ah....I brought in the wrong case ....no wonder it was so heavy" and he walked back out in the same manner, haunched over, huffing and puffing as if it weighed 400 pounds. Thanks to Ricky we now had $12.00 spending cash and a new case of beer to smuggle in just in time for the beer guzzle-mule race portion of the event.

Ricky the Mule jockey will have to be a later installment. Sorry this is so long. I just feel it needs the detail. Also, long stories honor Ricky. I don't believe he ever told a short one.

Ray Crosby · 1 year ago

Great story B K.

I cant believe no one mentioned beef jerky. I think he stole some jerky from every store he went in.

How many fights can we come up with as a result of a pool game gone bad. I can recall at least 7 or 8.

janey mattina · 1 year ago

Hicker-please tell as much of the cafeteria break in story as possible. Calls to girls to come and get yall from Clinton Po-po, hiding in the ditch in front of Dr. Nobles house...please.

janey mattina · 1 year ago

B-I have learned to ask for what i want so please give up some CS's stories. Gotta be lurking in there somewhere.

supercynic · 1 year ago

My typing skills can't keep up with all that's in my head. There was a convenience store 2 blocks from the Blue Chip, an after hours blues bar in west Jackson at which Ricky and I were regulars. We went to this convenience store to cure the munchies after drinking several 40s. Ricky commenced to eating nachos directly out of the machine--literally taking nachos out of the nacho bin and dipping them into the huge vat of cheese. While he did this, I got the guy working the counter ready for a race war b/c I pointed out that on the pre-packaged pork chop sandwiches they were called "Po-Chop Sandwiches." I kept on about how racist that was and that in my neighborhood they spelled out the "pork." Was it any wonder that in this black community "The Man" would call the sandwiches "Po-Chop"? I had this guy all ready to join me in a Kill Whitey movement (lost in the bloodlust was the fact that I was white) when Ricky walked up with cheese all over his face and said, "B, I've decided I don't want anything. You ready to go?"

The counter guy did a double take and demanded that we pay for the nachos. Ricky asked, "What nachos?" The counter guy screamed, "You got cheese all over your damn face!" I gave Ricky the "he's got you there" look and we paid up. Thereafter, when we went to that store, the clerk would yell, "Hey, there's cheese and po-chop."

supercynic · 1 year ago

Janey and Ray -- bar fights and CS's go hand-in-hand. The biggest bar fight I've ever been involved in was at CS's. School had just started for us, but hadn't started for Miss. State. There were at least 30 MC folks there and 50 MSU guys. Ricky and I were playing for beers. We lost the 1st game and bought the 2 MSU guys a couple of Bud Lights. We then won the next game and told the guys we wanted Foster's--remember the big oil can Foster's that were about $5 a pop. They protested and we kept saying nothing more than, "A beer's a beer. You owe us a beer. Foster's." Needless to say, that didn't make us too popular with the MSU folk. About 4 Foster's cans later, Ricky and I were hammered and it was obvious. So, the MSU folks wanted to play for $5 a stick. We said that was sissy $$ and we'd play for $20/stick. We both got down to the 8-ball and literally the entire bar was crowded around the table. Ricky and I were both seeing double and finally lost. Ricky and I pulled out $2 each and told them good game.

They asked what the hell the $2 was for b/c we were playing for $20. Ricky said, "$20? I said $2." Smack. The guy punched Ricky right in the eye. Seeing that an ass whupping was about to ensue, I looked for the closest (but not biggest) guy I could find and went ballistic on him. (This same guy came up to me about a week later when we were at another bar and asked if I remembered him. When I said no, he said, "I was the guy you were holding in the air against a wall at CS's for about 10 minutes." What could I say except "sorry.")

Next thing I knew the entire bar was a mass of bodies, punches, pushing, etc. Inez the bartender came out and screamed take it outside. I screamed no, don't take it outside b/c I knew that's where the 3-on-1 ass kicking was about to take place. Out the door we went and it was more like 5-to-1. Just as Ricky and I were about to get killed, Inez shot a gun in the air like in an Old West movie and we all scattered. Ricky and I ended up in the ER so he could get stitches. I don't remember much after that -- it could have been the multiple blunt trauma blows I took to the head that make a lot of that night fuzzy.

Brian Keith Bencz (B.K.) · 1 year ago

The first time my wife ever met Ricky we went over to Slidell to buy beads for the parade. As we were in line waiting to pay for our beads Michelle noticed Ricky out in the parking lot with a cart loaded with piles of beads which he was loading into the car. When we walked out he said to my wife "yeah...I just moonwalked out the front door. They thought I was coming in, but I was really going out".

larue65 · 1 year ago

Somebody please relate a Jimmy the Gay Cab Driver story. Gosh he loved Ricky.

janey mattina · 1 year ago

B- that is why I needed a CS's story because all I ever heard of that ENTIRE episode is that folks were at the bar and Inez blasted a shotgun into the sky. Never knew it was at your expense.

larue65 · 1 year ago

With all the talk of pool and fighting, I feel I should mention an almost fight that wasn't. This was in TO's. The confrontation was derailed when Ricky uttered something like the following to the redneck--"If you don't quit acting up, I'm going to dress you up like a french maid and spank you" --and walked off. This proved to be way too off the wall for the company we were keeping that night. The redneck looked at his redneck friend and said--"Did you hear what he just said to me?"-- While they were trying to figure out if they heard what they thought they heard, I walked off as I had no intention of fighting anyone anyway and really needed to find a sub. I assume they never did figure it out since there was no fight that night.

sully · 1 year ago

Anybody remember this quote...

"Oh baby, I'm waddling! I'm waddling!"

Ray Crosby · 1 year ago

Sully I could expand on that but it may be in poor taste considring this forum.

supercynic · 1 year ago

Holy smokes! Poor taste isn't allowed on here?!

Ray Crosby · 1 year ago

Well ok, you asked for it (the waddling story). On second thought I think I will let my wife tell the story. Untill then, here is another T O 's story. I hate to admit this but this took place waaaay after college. We were playing pool and closing down T O 's when the last two guys in the bar wanted to play a "friendly game of pool'. You all know Ricky had to play for a beer. They saw us playing and of course thought that it would be an easy beer and said of course. You all know Ricky had another gear when it came to playing for a beer. I don't know if it was him looking at the guys when he made the eight ball or the "raaaaak um" when he made the last shot, but they didn't want to buy us a beer. So Ricky asked for the keys to the truck and went outside. He was gone for awhile so I went to look for him. I got outside to find him with a hammer in his hand and two trucks in the parking lot, mine and one with every window in it busted out. He just gave me that shit eating grin and said I will come back tommorrow and pay the tab, lets go to Waffle House.

supercynic · 1 year ago

All of these years I've been wondering what jackass busted out the windows in my truck. I left early that night with someone else and came back the next morning to find all my windows knocked out. Damn.

neill mc · 1 year ago

Let me clearup Sully's Bistro story! When the girl broke up with the guy,she came and sat at the bar with me and Ricky. Her date came up and tried to stick her with her share of the bill, at which time Ricky and I told Giampa we would cover her half of the bill,since he was her date was an asshole. That pissed the guy off and he started mouthing off to bothme and Ricky, so Giampa and a waiter shoved him out the door. Twenty minutes later When Ricky called acting like him I didn't know it was ricky,Dumbass me took the phone and all I heard was something about gerbils being de-clawed and Shaved and I went through the roof.. I still can't remember who the girl was but I do remember Ricky and I burning Goodhart's yard on the way home.

neill mc · 1 year ago

By the way I typed my entry on the blackberry so ignore the typos

OMara · 1 year ago

Speaking of the smiley face Speedo...someone that was there needs to comment on Ricky's inroduction of the Speedo to one of the islands (cat island maybe) and the "look at the fag with the Speedo" comment coming from a redneck on the island. I heard of this story as a group of us foolishly went with Ricky to test the Grand Banks boat after it had been sitting in its slip for god knows how long. If I remember correctly, we got out of the harbor, but were still in the channel (that is as far as we got), when we realized that the steering mechanism did not work as it should. Par for the course...why did we join him? For a good story, I guess.

supercynic · 1 year ago

Re the Speedo. We were on the boat heading to the island -- I think it was Memorial Day weekend -- and Ricky unleashed the thong. Some idiot on the island yelled out, "Hey, look at that fag!" So, Ricky immediately proceeded to continuously bend over like he was picking something up thereby mooning the guy over and over again. The guy was apparently so taken aback that he didn't cause any trouble once we got onshore.

Stacey Thomas · 1 year ago

Ah the smiley face thong, a vision of Ricky wearing that will never be erased from my mind no matter how hard I try. The weekend of the Memorial Day trip, Ricky showed up at Nicholnoffs after a day on the boat wearing it under his regular swim trunks. I remember Jason & I were slow dancing next to him and some girl and we over heard her saying "Oh my gosh, are you wearing a thong?". I am thinking she is about to bolt but then I hear the pop of the thong as she looks at him smiling. I guess she was turned on by this in some sort of way. Only Ricky for sure.

We need a story about Halloween party at Cadillac Cafe when he was wearing Monica O'mara's mom's mardi gras costume, which was a pink tutu. I will say he is the only person i have ever seen kick ass in pool while wearing a smiley face thong or pink tutu.

Clark · 1 year ago

BK,
I think you need to share the story about crossing the border and Ricky mentioning something about cocaine. Also, I think it was you and him that wore the kids size halloween costumes!

I remember one time I came back home from California and me and Ricky were at this bar on the back bay that sold beer by the bucket. Me and Ricky were sitting there drinking and Ricky kept handing me cold beers. When I looked over to see where he was getting them, I noticed that he was reaching behind this very large guy and stealing them out of his bucket. Of course, Ricky had nothing to say but he did have that $@#%-eating grin that I'm sure we have all seen many times!

Monica · 1 year ago

Stacey - I will never forget that Halloween! It was so typical Ricky. I think my parents were out of town and we were staying at their house for some reason. We were getting ready to go out, and Ricky was running late, as always. (He is the only guy I've even known in my whole life who could take longer getting ready than it does for the girl to take a shower and do hair, makeup, etc. Of course, Ricky broke the mold for almost everything...) Anyway, we were getting ready to go out on Halloween night, and I'm sure everybody else had been planning their costumes for days if not weeks. We casually start looking in a few closets to see if we can find anything to wear. He starts looking through all my mother's old Revelers mardi gras costumes. I'm thinking, well one of these might work for me, but not for him. Anyway, once he saw that hot pink tutu, he was hooked! His eyes just lit up. Of course, he only wore the top half of the costume, which BARELY covered his behind, but of course, that's the way he liked it! He found some white fluffy girl hat with earflaps to wear with it, even though he required no additional accessories at all, and wore his black Doc Marten boots. He was like "ok I'm ready to go now". Hilarious looking!! That night was so unforgettable, b/c even though we were all used to Ricky's crazy antics, noone could keep a straight face all night. I just remember that we laughed at him all night long. Of course, once we got to the bar, he played pool all night. Towards the end of the night, one of the rednecks he was playing pool against leaned over to his friend and said "I can't believe we're getting our ass kicked by the guy wearing the panties" It was just one of those priceless nights with Ricky. I'm sure after that we all piled back in Alva's van and went on to the next bar. Who all remembers piling 25 people into Alva's old van? I just remember that we would start out with a crowd and even pick up stragglers along the way. I have no idea who drove us all those nights, either. Speaking of these lists, do any other old girlsfriends out there want to start one on how completely UNCONVENTIONAL it was to date Ricky??! Jana, Denise, are y'all out there?

Stacey Thomas · 1 year ago

Monica - remember we drove to the bar in the van but Ricky decided to leave it there, for days i'm sure, and he got us a ride home in the back of that rednecks truck, i believe it was a purple low rider and there were 10+ of us in the back. For some reason he couldn't convince the guy to take us to waffle house. There is no telling when he retrieved the van from that parking lot.

supercynic · 1 year ago

What I'd like to know from all the "old girlfriends" is why y'all got mad at me (and I'm sure Ricky's other friends) so much?

I can't even remember who this was, but one time I was sitting there zoning out while Ricky argued with a girlfriend, and out of nowhere I hear, "And B, fuck you too." It was like getting slapped out of a deep sleep. I remember thinking, "What the hell did I do??? I was just sitting here."

Monica · 1 year ago

Brian - so sorry that you got caught in the crossfire - but I really don't think it was me that time. I swear I don't remember ever being mad at you before, but if a girlfriend of Ricky's did get mad at you or one of his friends, I'm sure it had nothing to do with what good influences all of y'all were on each other... Also, while we're beating up on Brian, refer back to your original blog on this page, where you ask if anyone ever witnessed Ricky consuming any food (other than Waffle House at 3:00 a.m.). Do y'all remember how skinny I used to be when I was dating Ricky? I never could gain an ounce over 120 lbs back in those days. I just remember that I was always starving, but we never could stop long enough to eat. I remember always trying to get somebody else to admit that they were hungry too, and you would get so offended, as if I was insinuating that you loved to eat or something. Looking back, I know exactly why I was so skinny!! We weren't allowed to eat, only drink beer!!! It was no wonder that I put on 30 pounds 3 years after we stopped dating. Oh wait, I do remember eating a few times. It was those nights when Ricky would cook. He was such a great cook. I never could figure out how someone who ate so little could be such a phenomenal chef. He always attributed it to having worked in every restaurant in Jackson!

supercynic · 1 year ago

Monica--you had me laughing out loud thinking about all those times you would ask if I was hungry and my standard line was, "Are you calling me fat?"

larue65 · 1 year ago

About that halloween costume -- Ricky looked like some kind of demented pink Tinker Bell-- to get the full picture you have to imagine Peter Pan looking like Freddy Mercury from Queen. His "package", of course, was on maximum display for every shot, but it was better than the thong. He wound up becoming fast friends with the rednecks, despite sticking his ass in their face at every opportunity. The same outfit saw action again two nights later in a Halloween contest at the same bar. Ricky made the finals agaisnt a guy in a skeleton outfit. We just knew he'd win even though nobody could figure out what he was. Unfortunately, the dance-off song for the finalists was "Kung-Fu Fighting." Ricky danced up to the skeleton, kung-fu kicked him in the nads, and was immediatley disqualified.

sully · 1 year ago

Anyone remember the Ship Island Rendezvous story when Ricky climbed aboard somebodys boat, no doubt to steal beers, and then stumbled on a guy with cocaine all over his face? Ricky says to the guy, "Hey man, who's got the powdered donuts?"

Russ · 1 year ago

I am cracking up! I forgot about "that" Halloween costume and Rickey kicking that guy in the nads. The guy was wearing a skeleton outfit with a large head-piece that was very hard to see out of. That guy was just trying to survive up there then all of a sudden the boys were sent deep into his body cavity. All he could do was collapse to the floor. Rickey was just dancing around like that was the most natural thing to do with that funny look on his face like "did you see that?"

I still remember Rickey playing pool in that outfit too, his ass, white harry legs, boots and that big white fur Russian looking hat and he was as comfortable as if he were in old Levi's and a "T" shirt......

I use to live in a condo near Lil Ray's and never locked my door. As a matter of fact, I don't even remember having a key. One day, a girl I had just started dating and I were about to leave and she had "To Go" and wanted me to wait in the car, she would just be a minute. When we returned a few hours later, I walked into the condo to this awful smell. I couldn't believe how bad the downstairs bath was. The whole downstairs was stinking so bad that I coundn't even go in. She was mortified and I was re-thinking our relationship. A few weeks later Rickey let me know that he had dropped by to "leave me something"....... and no, I never told her.

dorcik · 1 year ago

"leave me something"? Russ did you every figure or realize what was left in your golf bag after the golf tournament at the Oaks ?? Remember when you kept taking the strap off, that held Rickey's golf bag on the cart?

Speaking of chaps, Rickey never needed the excuse of chaps to show his hardware when we were out, Know what I mean? Yep standing in line getting ready to pay, turn to Rickey to say something and guess what, I'd hear " damn I knew these pants were getting loose, ---"

Ray · 1 year ago

I had to sell a two year old truck because he left a chilli dog in the glove compartment. Big suprise I lost money on that one.

Another thought, has anyone ever helped Ricky move and he actually had stuff packed on the day of the move?

supercynic · 1 year ago

Once the Le Baron became so broken down it would barely run, Ricky parked it in the worst part of Jackson hoping that it would get stolen. About a week later, he checked on it. The car was not stolen; instead a homeless man was living in it.

Ricky never packed. John Cooley and I literally moved a couch with Ricky still lying on it b/c he wouldn't get up and we were due to be out that day.

Jessica · 1 year ago

Speaking of moving... Does anybody have any idea why Ricky always seemed to end up living directly next to the railroad tracks? It was like his pre-requisite for him moving.

Monica · 1 year ago

Jessica is soooo right about the train tracks! And Ray and Brian are so right about his car maintenance... I really don't think I ever rode in the LeBaron "Winky" more than three times. For one reason, he never drove, the other reason was that he had let it get completely infested with roaches. I remember he had one particularly big one in there that he had named Armando....
Also, about the moving, he would just throw stuff in with no rhyme or reason. He was helping me move to Jackson once with his granddaddy's ElCamino. Apparently the mattress and boxspring weren't tied down adequately, and they went flying all over I-55. He was so pissed by the time he got to Jackson. He told me that he had to walk all over the interstate picking up the mattress and boxspring. People were honking at him and swerving not to hit him. I felt bad for him, but I would have loved to have witnessed that one.

supercynic · 1 year ago

He had one of 2 prerequisites for choosing an abode: it either had to have bad plumbing and/or be near the railroad tracks.

Ole "Winky." Winky got its name from a night when Ricky and I wanted to go to Subway, but my car was in the shop and his battery was almost dead. The LeBaron had those headlight covers that require battery power to open up. Being the geniuses that we were, we deduced that the best way to conserve the battery power needed to get to Subway was to manually raise the headlight covers so that the battery wouldn't have to do it. I was working on one while he worked on the other. Mine suddenly snapped and popped open. It was obvious that it was broken, so we decided to forget it and catch a cab to Subway. When we broke the one, it somehow broke the other, so from then on, we had Winky.

Only behind Ricky would someone on the highway have to veer rapidly out of the way and scream, "Holy shit, I almost got hit by a mattress!"

Russ · 1 year ago

I have a lot of Foosball memories with Rickey. We played a lot of Foosball at EO’s on Sunday nights, which of course made Mondays very difficult. One particular Sunday, I was exhausted and about to head home from dinner with the guys and Rickey somehow talked me into driving he and cousin Justin F. (New York) to EO’s…. Why I don’t know, but I did. When we got there, he started coaxing me inside to play just one game of Foosball….just one quick game! I said no way, it was 9:00 pm and I was so tired I could barely hold my head up….. When we got inside, the table was taken and after watching for a few, I decided to sit down on the near by sofa. Apparently, that sit turned horizontal at some point….. When I woke up, I felt oddly refreshed and rested. I could see the faint light of dawn through the front glass. After I removed the half burned “Napkin Rose” from my ear canal, the cigarette butts from my nostrils and emptied the pound of butts and ashes from my shirt pocket, I pulled down my wedgie and started toward the door to see if I was locked in. I looked through the pass through window from the game room into the bar just in time to see this very cute little 20 something showing off her newly acquired Twin D’s. The smile on Justin and Rickey’s face…priceless. I remember Rickey saying…Man, it’s about time you got up…we need to go!….. I said, I guess I’m driving? It was about 6:00 am and they had been hard at it all night and Justin’s flight was leaving that morning. I dropped Justin off at Granny’s and rolled Rickey out at the 2nd street house and headed in to the office….Justin, didn’t you miss your flight?

Russ · 1 year ago

By the way, you all might want to know that Ray and Meg named their new baby boy "Peden" in honor of our much missed and loved friend.

Russ · 1 year ago

I love reading these old stories but without knowing Rickey, some of them might sound as if he was a guy that wanted to fight, steal and not keep up with his car and house. If anyone is reading this blog without knowing him then you should know that he was one of the nicest friends anyone could ever have. I don't really know anyone that didn't love him. Alot of the things he did were usually humor based. .....hey Johnny, what about finding the Q ball in your suit pocket in Jackson when those rednecks had you surrounded and Rickey managed to get buckled in so fast? He could always make you laugh. He brought people together. He was so kind hearted that it was not uncommon for him to have some homeless person at his house (remember that tall guy Michael who robbed him). If he saw someone on the side of the road that was hungry, he wouldn't rest untill they were fed. Those who knew him already know this.... Just a note to those who didn't.

Jessica · 1 year ago

Russ you are so right! Even knowing Ricky as well as I did, I never knew that he would have possibly been put in prison or institutionalized had someone found his stash.. And althought he did like to steal he also gave back an awful lot.. I recall one time while in New Orleans we were heading for brunch and had to pass by Lee Circle. While passing by Ricky obviously noticed about 50 homeless folks that had camped out for the night. When we passed Ricky says - turn around and head back to Wendy's, I am starving. Not quite sure what he was thinking, I turned around and went back. Ricky refused to go through the drive thru, he wanted to go in. After waiting FOREVER I assume that he using the bathroom instead of getting food but then he walks out with bags and bags of burgers in tow.. We make our way back to Lee Circle and Ricky makes his rounds handing out burgers to all. Even the ones sleeping were awakened by the smell of burgers that he left directly below their noses. So yes, Ricky was obviously a prankster but he never ceased to amaze me by his kind heartedness...

Stephen O'Mara · 1 year ago

I can add to that and to a twist to Ricky remaining friends with old girlfriends. He also be-friended ex-girlfriend's current boyfriends or husbands. I speak from peronal experience. Not long after Monica and I got married and were living in Jackson, Ricky called Monica and asked for me. I had never met or talked to Ricky at that time. Being the typical male, I was wondering what in the hell was he wanting with me much less calling Monica. After the most kind-hearted conversation, turns out he was calling me to invite me to play in a Salvation Army golf tournament on the coast (of which he was so masterfully chairing...Jason can provide plenty of comments on his organization skills for golf tournaments). From then on, especially after we moved to Gulfport, Ricky made a point to involve me in as much as possible, albeit things I probably should not have participated in. I am surprised Monica allowed me to go out with him unattended, her having lived the Ricky life for so long. To quote Ashley - what a jackass, man I miss him!

Russ · 1 year ago

His stash?...OOOHHHH. You mean all the worthless crap like q balls, booster seats, political signs....anything that wasn't tied down. Not the stuff you would normally find in a home?

I was riding with Ricky down Pass Road one day on the way to lunch when he whips it over to the side of the road and this black lady jumps in and he took off again. Well she was a housekeeper without a car and would walk back and forth to work. Ricky had obviously discovered this well before this day. He makes a quick detour to her house, she hops out with a quick "Thank you Baby" and we were off again. That was just typical Ricky. He made a difference one little kind deed at a time. Never for thanks or praise, thats just what he believed was the right thing to do.....I was never able to pass that lady again without pulling over.

Ray informed me it is Ricky not Rickey........What can I say.... I'm a lover not a speller.

You people need to get to typing. There are alot of stories not yet told.

How about the trip to Hedenism in Jamaica or was it "Pedenism"? There has to be some part of that trip that can be told!......Maybe not.

What about Rick W's new boss checking the messages at the hotel while on that business trip? That shit was funny! Where are you Rick?

supercynic · 1 year ago

Ok, I'll be serious for a second. There's no way I can be succinct about this, so settle in. When I met Ricky, I was 17 years old. When Ricky died, I was 36 years old. That's 19 years of close friendship with him. Sure we spent many an hour playing pool, sitting around drinking, or just otherwise goofing off. But we also spent a lot of time talking, just the two of us. One of the things we had in common -- and I still think it's the thing that kept us so close -- is that we believed a person's true nature was revealed in what that person did to help people vs. what he said he believed about helping people. Keep in mind, Ricky and I attended Mississippi College; that bastion of Christian morality, where you were a Christian if you didn't drink or curse, but 1/2 the folks there wouldn't lend you a dime if you were in need, but I digress.

So anyway, we talked a lot about helping people. Neither of us had any real money to speak of, so we could only do it through our actions. Now let me stop here and acknowledge that, yes, we did steal countless ice chests and jumper cables from people's trucks. Once when my Honda Accord was missing a hubcap, we went to a hotel parking lot, found an Accord like mine, broke off 3 hubcaps before realizing that you had to jack up the tire to steal this particular model's hubcap--so we did. That person who woke up the next day missing all 4 hubcaps would not agree with me that Ricky and I were gracious people. We did have our faults. I've never claimed that Ricky was a saint. But by my definition of what it really means to live a life in which you try to accomplish the Lord's Prayer and bring heaven on earth, Ricky came closer than most people who never missed a Sunday service.

About 2 years or so before his death, Ricky and I talked about starting a specific-needs foundation. It was to be a foundation that raised money to be spent on specific needs of persons/families. Donors would be able to know exactly how their money was spent, which we thought would be more attractive than simply giving to a general charity. By this time he was on the Coast and I had a wife and child, so we never got it off the ground, but the point is the same -- Ricky, for all his faults, (and he and I tangled verbally many a time b/c we both could be pouty, whiny bitches) was one of the true givers. As I said in my eulogy (Thank you so much Ashley for letting me do that, by the way.), Ricky taught me more about what it really means to be a Christian than just about anyone else. He once said the same about me, but I'm sure he was just trying to make me feel better b/c I know for a fact that he helped people more than I did.

We often talked about how we drank too much, cursed too much, didn't go to church enough, but it never failed that soon thereafter an opportunity would come by that would allow us help someone out, and we would say, "Which do you think God cares more about -- the fact that we're drunk and we say 'shit' too much or the fact that we just helped someone that we could have just as easily ignored?" He and I were comfortable with what we believed the answer to be.

There are a 1000 crazy ass stories that I could tell, but Russ you're right. For people who didn't know Ricky, they need to know there was more to him than just partying. Hell, anyone can drink a lot, party a lot, do stupid shit, but the proof of Ricky's depth of character is the fact that there are so many of us pecking out stories about him on a computer screen. His testament is in the number of friends he has.

bill · 1 year ago

first off, this whole endeavor is incredible - it is wonderful to hear the stories that most assuredly would have come had i had more time with my brother. thank god i have been able to spend many late nights drinking and bumming ashley "drunken" cigarettes as we share tales of dad and ricky and the craziness that ensued with both of them. so, to everyone opening windows into the past, thank you. it's hilarious to remember your faces when i was really young, or the conversations i'd have with you as i grew a little older - none of you had any idea what to do with rick and alva's innocent child. hah! but i could always count on being welcomed, not to mention a damn good meal and a few underage beers while spending time with ricky and the few of you i was able to meet at his house(s). sadly i don't have too much to offer when it comes to stories, but i do have one that sticks in my mind that maybe some of you can appreciate, and/or elaborate upon. it's kind of two part. i remember a day - i was probably 11 or 12 at the time - when ricky and some friends were taking the bayliner out for a spin. i saw all of you guys hopping on board the "party" barge and riding off into the sunset. whether it was thirty minutes or three hours i can't remember, but some time later dad gets a phone call and, lets just say, is less than thrilled - the engine is blown. i remember from that day forth the bayliner sat behind the house as glorified lawn furniture. i didn't think too much about it.

fast forward a few years later. i'm probably 16 or so. it was around mardi gras and, hilariously, i'm playing bass with corey ray and some other guys in the attic of a warehouse at kremer marine. (corey, i have you to thank for my belief that rod stewart's tonight i'm yours really does sound better with some balls behind it. but i digress...) so it's around mardi gras and that means you guys are getting together the troupe of Eusda Migosa(sp?). corey is setting in to make the theme song for the float and lets me hear it while ricky and i are hanging out one afternoon. throughout the song i keep hearing this hook cut through over and over again. "GOTTA TRIM IT UP!!!" 'what's that all about,' i ask ricky. the shit eating grin comes up that all of you remember so well, and corey and ricky glance at each other. 'do you remember when the bayliner's engine blew,' he says to me. 'yeah, i remember that.' he then proceeded to recall himself taking the un-sagely and seemingly inebriated advice of the boat's "crew" that day, where the trim could only go one direction - "up". and by "up" he of course meant to the point of everyone being stranded near pops ferry with a blown engine and a lot of beer. good times, indeed.

keep these coming, guys. you can't know how appreciated they are, and how alive ricky remains through the memories surrounding all the he was.

Ray · 1 year ago

It has been a few days since I have been on here and I must say Russ had a good point. I moved to Bayou View in the 8th grade. I came from a broken home and had been living with my mother outside of McComb MS. To say the least "in the country". I was a fish out of water and needed a friend. Ricky and I had shop together and from the first day I had a friend and was welcomed into the "in crowd". It wasn't long before we were "borrowing" golf carts to joy ride in and skiing every chance we got. We quickly became inseperable and went through some tough times, not making the high school baseball team among many others, but the good times more than made up for it. Like toilet paper rolling said baseball field. We were at each others house so much that Dr. Peden put us both on restriction once. As I look back over the past 25 years I realize we could have gone our seperate ways or grown apart (seperate colleges) and sadly if it had been completely up to me we probably would have. Once you were a friend of Ricky he would work at being your friend, often alot harder than you would. As I read over these postings I think that Ricky is still at work. I can trully say that most of my lifelong friendships were forged with Ricky, and I know that I am a better person for it. I think we should work at maintaining our friendships. I know a memorial golf tournament has been mentioned by many but I haven't heard anything lately. If anyone wants to get that started I would be happy to help. Hope all is well.

ashley peden kremer · 1 year ago

golf tournament --- who are we kidding? i say we get together once a year and have a huge party (oddly enough, the night of ricky's wake was one of the most special nights --- having everyone together) --- we'll get a band, drink and tell ricky stories and have a big basket by the front door for everyone to make donations for a charity we all agree on. none of us are organized or motivated enough to put together a golf tournament ---- plus -- i want to see everyone - and the girls wouldn't really be a part of a golf tournament---- but a party?! i think most people would say - name the time and the place and i'll be happy to throw a hundo into the donation basket. how does end of summer sound (i mean, besides ridiculously hot and humid). we could do it at my house --- i have a pool and nicole's well-known in these parts for skinny-dipping during my parties - while i am known more for my award-winning camel fighting abilities (bring it stacey & jason!)

Stephen O'Mara · 1 year ago

Funny the timing of this very conversation. I have been charged with organizing the Make A Wish Foundation golf tournament this year. As many of you know Make a Wish was a charity Ricky was involved in for years and helped organize many fundraisers for it (albeit Shellie Moses cried many times due to Ricky's well-known procrasitnation...however, things always seemed to work out). At the last Make a Wish board meeting it was approved to call the tournament the "Ricky Peden Memorial Golf Tournament". We all knew there has been talk of this before, but I think now there is actually some momentum behind it. Jason knows about this, and sorry, Ashley you have been on my list to call about this over the past few days but, in memory of Ricky, I had to put that phone call off due to other more important things coming up such as pool at Orangutang's with Red Bull and vodka going to the winners.

The golf tournament is going to happen regardless of the name of it. So we might as well call it what was mentioned above. But maybe we could incorporate a party the night before in which contributions would go toward the cause. Now, I understand that Make a Wish would probably not want their name attached to such debauchary mentioned in the previous post, but we would not have to put their name on it. I am sure there are many that would definitely also put in a hundo to see Nicole's skinny dipping; although, it may not take that.

I am trying to organize a committee meeting (Rickyesque, of course...i.e. meeting at a bar, Ricky talking in circles, nothing really getting accomplished, and committee members leaving without truly understanding what Ricky was wanting them to do). Let's talk about a time and place to do this. May I suggest Wednesday at 5:30 at Orangutangs.

We do need help in choosing the course as Jason and I am pretty sure that we still owe The Oaks money after the last Salvation Army golf tournament!

Please provide your input as, again the tournament is going to happen regardless. So, it seems this is the perfect opportunity to do something.

Stephen O'Mara · 1 year ago

Another fundraiser suggestion...a poolside hairiest back competition in honor of Ricky. I issue the challenge to anyone. Monica would be proud. To incorporate complete clotheslessness in Ashley's pool, we could also have harriest ass competition, also in honor of Ricky. Sorry, Monica, but maybe others will have the privilege of seeing my assets that you are able to see every day.

Ray · 1 year ago

Count me in for the party. Ashley let me know what I can do to help. Stehpen I will help just as much with this tournament as I did with the ones Ricky put on. Which means I will show up hungover to play some shitty golf. Kidding give me a call and I will help.

bb · 1 year ago

I have very fond memories of Ricky. We dated for a short time and he broke my heart, but I still think he was a kick in the pants. Speaking of broken hearts, Ashley, I heard your man was still seeing and speaking with his ex on a regular basis. Watch out

Ray · 1 year ago

We should have the 1st annual bikini contest at the pool party extra points for a smiley face thong!!! How about Labor Day weekend?

ashley peden kremer · 1 year ago

not really getting the references, bb. (who is bb?) ned and i split six years ago and have remained friends. who he sees on a regular basis is strictly his business -- and this isn't really the place to be commenting on his personal life anyway - but thanks.

ashley peden kremer · 1 year ago

are we talking about ned? who is bb and who in the hell is "my man"? i'm confused --- oh, well - this isn't the place for any of that -- somebody wants to tell me something give me a call --- let's keep this about ricky and fond memories.

supercynic · 1 year ago

Maybe bb thought this was the Dicky Peden site. BB, that's over at blogspot and it's hosted by some lame-o who calls himself Mildly Skeptical.

And Dicky was an asshole, unlike Ricky.....who was also an asshole but in a good way. Ashley, maybe bb is snaking on "your man." "Your man." That sounds like something off the Springer show.

Stephen O'Mara · 1 year ago

bb...do you need a kick in the pants?; whoever bb is needs some Rickyesque responses

Russ · 1 year ago

bb, you’re an idiot! This site is a discussion of our much loved and lost friend.... not a place for you to show the world the true depth of your stupidity, although you have succeeded in doing just that.

Anyway, Golf Tourney has to happen. I say the “Ricky Peden Invitational”. A two day event starting on Friday, 27 holes day one, switching groups every 9 holes 18 holes on day two. This would let everyone play with 10 different people. Everyone would be required to bring in a partner from outside the group. (Ricky was all about mixing people.) Grouped in flights of six teams. Party at Ashley,s Friday night, if she’s really that brave. Meet and park at Orangutangs Saturday morning, bus to course then back for an awards banquet/cocktail party/pool shooting contest/find the difference in the pictures arcade game playing/story telling/drunken crying reminiscing/thong wearing throw down. Then of course Champagne Brunch at O’Charley’s on Sunday....

Russ · 1 year ago

This is the story of a girl Ricky dubbed Midget Porn.

One night, after a Chamber After Hours gathering, Ricky and I were at the bar at Ruby Tuesday’s and struck up a conversation with this cute little blond. Now by little I mean lap sized. Under 4’. She actually jumped up and was sitting in our laps at the bar. Anyway, somehow we ended up over at Ricky’s 2nd street house drinking a lot of beer. Now this little girl was put together in all the right places, thanks of course to the wonder of modern medicine. I recall her bragging about how skilled her plastic surgeon was and Ricky arguing with her until she felt compelled to just bring out the proof. The next morning, I woke to find myself stretched out on Ricky’s 38” sofa and I couldn’t help but wonder if my girlfriend was wondering where the hell I was. I jumped up partially out of panic and partially out of the realization that I was just about to prank the prankster. I could not believe my good fortune in that I was able to quietly slip out the front door which was left open all night and drive away. I thought, If I could only be there to see the look on his face when Ricky realized that he was awake, at home, with this stranger of a girl and no vehicle. We all know that Ricky never drove. I doubt “he” even knew where his car was. I had it all planned out. First, I would forward my cell phone to some other number like “Joey’s” or maybe Jessica’s. Boy was this going to be great….. I managed to slip home and into the shower before my girlfriend woke up. When I got out of the shower she was just stirring and looked at me all sleepy eyed just smiling with a “good morning baby” and a “how did you sleep?” “I slept great just like I always do next to you honey” was the proper response. She slipped into the shower and just as I was thinking about how perfect things were working out, I heard a car door and glanced out the front window of my condo. Holy shit! What’s Jessica’s car doing out front? Then it suddenly drove away to reveal MIDGET PORN. She was heading straight for the front door. I peeled open the shower curtain, gave my girlfriend a quick kiss and “gotta go, lots of meetings this morning” and sprinted down the stairs. Midget porn wanted to come in but that just couldn’t happen. I told her I just set off a pesticide bomb and couldn’t go back in for at least 24 hours. She said, Ricky said you could give me a ride home. I couldn’t get her in the car fast enough. This would have been real hard to explain. Where to? I asked. I ended up having to take her to Vancleve which felt like Mars at this point. I guess Jessica had dropped by Ricky's and he blamed her on me and somehow got her to drop her off at my condo. Ricky was an artist at his craft pulling off a beautiful “Reverse Slam”.

BB · 1 year ago

I guess I am an idiot. I have been gone for too long and did not realize y'all had split. I am sorry for my comment and your loss

supercynic · 1 year ago

No problem BB. I'm an idiot everyday and look at what (little) all I've accomplished.

Ricky came to me in a dream last night and asked that I direct all of yall's attention to the Ricky-inspired dance moves of my 5 year old. The video is located here. The video was edited by me. When you watch it, you'll wonder how I got Spielberg to direct my 5-year old's May Day celebration, but I promise it was just little ole me.

Ray · 1 year ago

Stephen is the "meeting" at Orangutangs still on for Wed. 5:30 . If so count me in or let me know when and where. I don't know about the rest of ya'll but my out of shape ass can't play 45 holes of golf in two days, much less drink for two days. It takes me a week to recover from a night out.

Ray · 1 year ago

Who let out our secret Ashley, you know I am the man. I mean "your man".

Stepen O'Mara · 1 year ago

Wednesday 5:30 at Orangutang's.

Russ · 1 year ago

I'll be there. Any Pedenites are obviously welcome. Even you BB.

Russ · 1 year ago

Hey BK. How does one attach one of those extra fancy stamps to one's post?

supercynic · 1 year ago

BK may know how to put a picture by your comment, but I don't know how regularly he reads this blog. Your amiable host B knows how to though. If you go to Gravatar's website, I think you can either pick a picture from there or upload your own picture. That picture will supposedly then follow you wherever you wish it to on the Internet.

I've never used it, so I can't explain all the details. My Bigfoot (oh, so many stories) picture automatically pops up b/c I've poured millions of my own dollars in to creating this site.

cykalrrr · 1 year ago

OOPS! Sorry BH. It was kind of early. Gravatar
Here goes.

cykalrrr · 1 year ago

Now everybody's gonna want one.

Stacey · 1 year ago

I am so loving this blog. Laughing and crying through the entire thing. Russ, thanks for pointing out Ricky's goodness. He had the biggest heart of anyone I have ever known. It just always felt good to be in his presence. My husband was often in his presence and it was usually till about 3 a.m. No matter how angry I would become about those late nights, Ricky would always be able to get my forgiveness long before Jason. He could make me laugh, give me a big hug and all was okay. He eventually started calling me to get the approval for a night out prior to calling Jason. He definitely knew how to work us women.

Still want to hear a story on that trip to Hedonism. Where's Goodhart?

Stacey · 1 year ago

Oh Ashley, the chicken fight is on! Me and my man is ready! This will have to take place at a smaller gathering than the golf tournament party unless you plan on serving Patron. I have grown a little since turning 40, I could possibly sink him. May have to come up with another game.

supercynic · 1 year ago

I could talk about Hedonism b/c that was one of my bachelor parties (I was lucky enough to get a couple), but I'd like to hear from Goodhart or Justin before weighing in. I will later tell how it was a well kept secret up until the actual time to confirm the trip, then Ricky and my wife Ashley horribly botched it.

larue65 · 1 year ago

Ok, since my wife is mentioning the anger aroused through late night carousing with Ricky...here's a short story. I came in one night kind of early, around 2:30 ish. I was met at the door by a wall of rage with short brown hair. Somewhere in the midst of a full out dog-cussing during which I was accused of every dastardly act under the sun (er...moon), Stacey says--- "What's that on your cheek? Is that lipstick?? Who the was kissing you? , f-bomb> She then grabs me, peers at my cheek and says "Wait a minute!! Thats not lipstick!! That's chili!!! You've been with Ricky!!!!! .

For some reason the fact I had been with Ricky made her madder than when she thought some skank had been kissing on me. And she stayed mad at me longer than she did at Ricky.

Ray Crosby · 1 year ago

I was in my truck the other day and my 3 year old son farted and it stunk. It also reminded me of a Ricky story. He had a guy, he worked with, down from Jackson. We all went out the first night, stayed out to late, and ended up at the Waffle. The next night we went out and the guy from Jackson says " man yall have alot of paper mills around here". I had no idea what he was talking about. Ricky was behind him with that grin on his face. He tells me later that they went from one end of the coast to the other and the Berts chilli was rearing its ugly head. Every time the guy from Jackson would say anything and try to roll down the window Ricky would stop him and say it was a paper mill.

BK · 1 year ago

When I think about it I realize just how much of a modern day Robin Hood Ricky actually was. There were many times when he borrowed items from anything commercial, institutional, or impersonal only to give right back on a very personal level to someone in need. I can think of one time specifically when I witnessed this transaction as it occured in one fell swoop. We were at a winery in Temecula California and had been wine tasting all day. Ricky at one point began paying a lot of attention to the merchant part of the winery where they stock items like wine and cheese to sell to the drunken guests. I can't remember who else was with us, but I was talking to whoever it was, and then noticed that Ricky had disappeared.......Ricky disappearing at a winery is not good, especially when it is about the fourth one you have been to.
Ricky showed up to my surprise in a couple of minutes with no real evidence of any mischief about him. We finished our wine and decided to leave and go onto another winery. When we walked out side there were about 20 cars in the parking lot and every one of them had a package of string cheese under each windshield wiper. Apparently he felt that those poor car owners needed that string cheese more than that winery did. Classic Robin Hood Ricky right there.

I still intend to tell the story of the beer olympics donkey jockey also. I just need to get a good block of time open for that one.

Ray · 1 year ago

Ricky was a groomsman in my first wedding (there has been two). As we all know that "honor" comes with two and only two responsabilities, be on time and wear the right tuxedo. Having known Ricky for 12 years at the time I, as well as my wife, knew this could be a problem. So I called in his size for the tux and gave him a "Ricky time" to be there. He was an hour late for the rehersal. After a long night, I made him stay with me so he would make the wedding, we awoke to get dressed only to find he had not picked up his tux. His solution was to borrow one from Dr. Peden. It matched in that they were both tuxedos. Had anyone else done that the Bride would have had him killed, but it turned out to be the best memory of the day. Only Ricky!

supercynic · 1 year ago

Ricky was my best man. When the time came for him to give me the ring to give to my wife, he gave me a plastic ring with a demon skull on it. So, the preachers are saying all these sacred vows about this ring that has an evil, Satanic skull on it. I think it also glowed in the dark.

He probably was getting back at me for Yack's wedding. I picked up Ricky's real tux and I also asked for the smallest shirt they had that still would pass the first glance test. They gave me a boy's large. I inserted that shirt into Ricky's tux package and hung it up. The next day as we're all getting dressed, Ricky comes walking in laughing his ass off as he tries to button a shirt that's about 4 times too small for him. The buttons wouldn't even touch each other and the sleeves only came down just past his elbows. After letting him sweat it out for about 5 minutes, I gave him his real shirt.

Russ · 1 year ago

B, that prank could have easily backfired. I can just see Ricky appearing in front of the whole wedding wearing the small shirt. You know he would have had a look on his face as if nothing was wrong. That was a close one.

supercynic · 1 year ago

True, but it would have backfired at Yack's wedding not mine, so either way I was getting a laugh.

By the way, that wedding/reception was during the day so everyone was tanked by 7pm. For reasons that escape me at the moment, I had spare clothes but no spare shoes to change into -- only my patent leather tux shoes. Ricky wouldn't let up about going out, so I insisted that if I were going out, he also had to wear his tux shoes. Of course, he didn't think twice. So, we both hit the bars in jeans (which we tight-rolled just to add to the effect) and patent leather tux shoes. I can't believe I didn't hook up that night.

Russ · 1 year ago

Set your clock for September 5 (2008) golf tourney. That is a Friday.

Russ · 1 year ago

That is 2008. I guess an 8 followed by a ) results in a smileycon or whatever those things are.
8)

supercynic · 1 year ago

(1) I maintain such a happy site that those smiley faces just pop up all the time automatically, or
(2) I'm sponsored by Wal-Mart, or
(3) I rigged the site to do that to piss people off.

Jessica · 1 year ago

I have not been on in a while but I would love to help out with anything that I can in regards to the golf tournament and party. It would be great to get together!!

travellinbaen · 1 year ago

I have been enjoying this thread for awhile, and waiting for someone to bring up one of my personal favorite stories, but since it hasn't come up, I feel compelled.

Let me digress for a minute by saying I also haven't posted because I didn't get the time with Ricky most of you did and therefore feel a little less worthy to claim closeness to him. I also feel a bit cheated. But I had enough to know he had the biggest and sincerest heart of anyone I've yet come across. And I'll always remember how we became friends: I was close friends with Brian, met Ricky, and by virtue of my friendship with Brian, Ricky just looked me in the eye, gave me a slightly uncomfortably close face to face hug, and told me he loved me. Truth is, I was quite put off by this and didn't really think much of him until we'd hung out another dozen or so times and I realized the goofy sob meant it. I got a few more of those hugs through the years, but I lost the discomfort.

I'm ... proud? to say I was out there that day with the thong. But it was around that time, maybe the same weekend that Ricky was telling the "Holy shit...HELLO" story. For once he was not the star of the show, merely a supporting actor, but his re-telling of the meth-head's flat tire and subsequent police run-in outside his house is an all time classic.

And one more while I'm at it. Back to that first time we met-he came up to Oxford to hang out with Brian and we all went out to some redneck joint out in the county. An awesome rockin metal hair cover band was belting out the Crue and AC DC, Guns and Roses, etc. For some reason, there was a moment of relative quiet between songs when I hear "SKIIINARRRD--PLAY SOME SKINNNNNNARRRRRRRD". The locals were pretty sure they were being mocked, but apparantly, the invocation of that sacred name led them to determine that it was entirely possible, even logical, the goofy small one was serious, and once again our hero and his posse escaped an ugly scene unscathed.

Russ · 1 year ago

........that day with the thong????? Good heavens boy!!!
You must be more specific. That day could be one of (m)any.
...now don't leave us hanging with the "holy shit...HELLO" and the "Meth-head's flat tire"....... Please continue!

supercynic · 1 year ago

As told to us by Ricky -- and I know there's a girlfriend out there that at least saw part of this -- Ricky and said girlfriend were having dinner when a homeless looking man knocked on their door. Ricky opened the door and saw this redneck, drunkard, crankhead of a man complaining about his broken-down van on the curb. He said he had a flat tire.

So, Ricky began helping the man fix the flat tire not knowing that one of the neighbors had called the cops b/c the guy had either already bugged one of the neighbors or done something to cause a ruckus (who knows).

This high-as-a-kite guy was walking around to the side of the van, saw the cops pull up, and, thinking that he was only talking to himself, not very quietly said, "Holy shit!" Realizing he did say that out loud, he then tried to shift gears to normal, sober, nice guy and he basically screamed at the cops in a cheery voice, "HELLO!"

It's hard to put in writing the change in voice and character displayed by this man who knew he was about to go to jail, but my best attempt is this. Druggie dude sees cops and says loud enough for everyone to hear, "Holy shit!.........HELLO!!!!!!"

And then he went to jail. My moral of the story is never say, "hello" to cops. It just pisses them off.

So, for months after that whenever there was any combination of Ricky, Travellinbaen and/or me around, one of us would eventually, usually for no particular reason, shout out, "Holy shit. HELLO!" And then we'd laugh our asses off b/c that's what life's for.

Russ · 1 year ago

Thanks for clearing that up...I have faint recall of a story about Ricky running around second street in boxers and something about a lawn mower??? Can anyone help on this one?

Jessica · 1 year ago

There are a lot of 2nd street stories that put a smile on my face and the lawn mower - boxer story is definitely one of those..

I am not proud to say but it was a late night and in a drunkened stupor Ricky and I get into this enormous fight... Before I know it,Ricky takes off to Goodheart's house in nothing but his boxers. As he is slowly making his way down 2nd street - a man and woman coming running out of their house waving flashlights and pistols and screaming
"get down on the ground , we caught you." The lady then says, " you, you stole our lawn mower and you are going to jail.." Ricky lying their face down on the ground, in only his boxers, screams back(scared to death with this gun pointed at him) " please, please call the cops! You caught me, I'm the boxer bandit!!!" Of course the husband and wife team don't think that Ricky is funny at all, they are just happy they caught the jackass that stole their lawn mower. They actually held Ricky down on the ground with the gun pointed on him until the cops arrive...

Then the cops get there and Ricky(in his boxers) is trying to explain to them that he and his crazy girlfriend got into a fight and he is trying to make his way to his house to stay out of trouble. After a while the cops finally transport Ricky back to his house to verify his girlfriend story...

I see the cop car lights drive up ( not 1 but 2 cars) and I can not believe that the jackass actually called the cops on me.... Okay maybe it was fight and all but call the cops?? At any rate, the cops knock on the door and I open it to Ricky standing there surrounded by cops in nothing but his boxer and that look on his face. Before the cops could ever say a word Ricky and I both bust out laughing. Of course we clear everything up and the cops leave and Ricky gets to tell him about the complete adventure.... Thus he dubbed him self " the boxer bandit" !!!

I love these stories but I miss hearing him tell me.... God, I miss him!!!

BK · 1 year ago

I have read 'On the Road' by Kerouac as I am sure many of you have, and I have to say it doesn't come close to the adventures we all have had with Ricky.

Back to the beer olympics in Baja. Ricky and I were on a 4 man 1 girl team in a 3 day contest that involved drinking in every event. The girl on our team was really irking Ricky because although she could drink for 20 hours straight, she couldn't guzzle a drop, and this event necessitated speed drinking to be competitive. Well into day 2 we were in very last place (due to the inability to guzzle beer by the girl) in an event that required that you guzzle a beer, run an obstacle course inside the beach bar area, jump on a donky and ride it down the beach around a tire and back, run the course again, guzzle beer #2...then tag your team mate who began guzzling his first beer.

Ricky was batting clean up for our team, and followed slow drinking girl. Ricky slammed his beer and took off like Batman through the course to the donky. This was the point where everything slowed down for most people. No one could get the donkys to move any faster than an incredibly slow walk...and usually not in the right direction. When Ricky got on his donky though it was pure comedy. He jumped on that thing and got into some racing jocky, low profile, aerodynamic position (before the donky even moved, in fact it looked like it was yawning) and then I seriously don't know what he did to that donky (and I don't want to imagine) but that donky took off like Seabiscuit. The donky, with Ricky in full on donky jocky riding position, ran at full throttle (right past all the other teams who were wandering around in the sand in circles) down the beach and around the tire, coming out of the turn sideways so fast that the donkys butt nearly passed his head. Honestly it was an amazing site to see. Ricky parked the Tiajuana Seabiscuit, jumped off, ran back, and guzzled his last beer for the team win.

On our way back to California Ricky had a couple more up his sleeve (this by the way was one of the only times I got really grumpy with him). The wait at the border crossing was about 1 1/2 hours, so Ricky decided to get out of my truck cab and lay down in the bed under a blanket. We weren't moving much at all so it seemed fine. As I finally aproached the border check the Border Patrol Agent walked over to my truck to do a quick visual inspection. I hadn't thought about Ricky much for the previous hour until that moment. Just as the Border Patrol Agent began to lift the corner of the blanket Ricky set up and yelled 'BOO' and then giggled like a fool. He had fully entertained himself at my expense. The Agent was pissed and shouted 'Secondary', which means I got sent to a secondary inspection area that could take another several hours. This was where I started to get grumpy at Ricky...and he was happy as a clam, as if this was a fun place to be. We were broke, hung over, and tired but he was still going strong. When the secondary inspection team came over after about an hour Ricky said "Where would you say that the best place to smuggle drugs across the border would be? In the tires?"
This is when I was really wondering why he just couldn't be quiet once in a while. That team began dismantling everthing from my truck that they could. As I recall it took about another 3 hours for everything to be ripped out of my truck, every crannie inspected, and then put back together. Somehow Ricky managed to stay quiet long enough to avoid us getting a body cavity search, and I think he enjoyed it all. I gave him the silent treatment the rest of the way home.

I love that guy and I miss his mischief.

Russ · 1 year ago

Thanks Jessica. I knew there was something funny about boxers and a lawn mower, just couldn't remember. I suspect that you have more stories that anyone so keep them comming.

Russ · 1 year ago

I talked to CRay and he lost all of his pictures in the storm. Very sad about that because I know he had hundredes of Ricky..... B, can you make a photo page complete with instructions on how to post them on this site? I know I have some somewhere that others would like to see as do other friends.

Sully · 1 year ago

My favorite picture of Ricky was the one that Russ had blown up for Ricky's funeral. The story behind it is worth telling, so here goes. Our wedding was family style at Grasslawn, followed by big reception with all of our friends outside. For those of you who were there, I don't need to remind you how hammered I got. This was in part, thanks to Ricky who kept handing me a fresh scotch every time I turned around. So during the reception, C-ray wants to do a few poses with me and Melinda inside Grasslawn. Being silly drunk, I struck a pose at the mantle with my jacket slung over my shoulder. Ricky saw this and thought it was funny, so he started mocking me to C-ray, who snapped that photo. It was really a great picture of Ricky. We then continued drinking (with Winston the bartender pouring stout scotches) until it was time Melinda and I to depart the reception. So my blushing bride (actually she was just really angry) took my drink from me, and upon insistence from my Dad, got behind the wheel to drive us away. Yes, my wife had to drive b/c I was too wasted. So Ricky, seeing that she has taken my drink and I wasn't even driving, recognized the inherent travesty in such a sight, and sprinted over to the bar to get me another. My second favorite picture of Ricky is him standing in the background with that *grin* watching me climb in the get-a-way car to leave the reception with cupped the scotch behind my back! Of course, I don't think I ever told him that the second we got in the car, she smacked the scotch out of my hand and all over the interior! What a way to start a marriage!

If I can find that picture and figure out how to post it I will do so. Russ, if you still have my copy of the "Ricky pose" I would love to have it back!

J.L. Riffe · 1 year ago

I'll pass one on about about Ricky.
This one was from when we were kids but it is the main thing that sticks out in my memory.... sadly I never knew Ricky in adulthood....
I wasn't there for the actuall event but Ricky gained quite a bit of fame for setting his pocket on fire when it happened to be full of fireworks. I guess this was around 5th or 6th grade

By reading what has been posted here, sounds like he grew up to be quite a character.... much in keeping of what I remember of him from back in our youth.

And a note to Ashley: hey girl, long time no see. I hope life has been excellent for you since the days back at 'The Flags'.

/Regards,

Jeff

J.L. Riffe · 1 year ago

Ok, after rummaging back thru nearly 30 year old memories, it might not have been Ricky who set his cargo pocket on fire, but a cat by the name of Phillip whose last name escapes me at the moment.

Too many years, beers and concussions makes the memory not quite as sharp as it once was. However, if it wasn't Ricky then he was there because that particular memory is strongly associated with him.

At any rate, sorry for the intrusion and I am certainly pained at the news that Ricky is gone.

/Regards,
Jeff

supercynic · 1 year ago

Jeff -- No intrusion at all. I'm sure that if it wasn't Ricky who caught his pants on fire then he was the one who set someone else's pants on fire. It was probably the latter b/c Ricky's pants never seemed to stay on him very long.

DT · 1 year ago

Hello all and thanks for setting up this board. I was friends with Ricky 20+ years ago in high school/college and didn't see him much after we went to different schools, but did keep up with some of his antics thru mutual friends.

my first encounter with Ricky was during a high school soccer game. it was a big game as I played for Ocean Springs and Ricky Gulfport. Both were undefeated. This was for the top seed in the South MS tournament (there was no state high school tourney back in the 80's). The game was tight and we were throwing as much junk at each other as we could get away with. during the second half, i was airborne defending a corner kick and this long haired cat clad in orange and blue punched me square in the nuts. I of course retaliated by throwing punches while trying to catch my breath and the ref went nuts and threw the red card down on me. now, i had played soccer on the coast my whole life and knew most of the gulfport players but not this INXS wannabe. all I knew was that i didn't like him.

I asked the Gulfport people I knew who he was and they told me his name was Ricky Peden and he was a good guy. I wasn't sold.

After the season was over, I was at Nicholnoffs (or maybe Two Timers nickel beer night, it's kind of hazy) as usual with a mix of Gulfport and OS friends (mainly Steve M., who I travelled the 20 miles down the beach with every weekend) and up walks the nut puncher. he extends his hand and says "no hard feelings." I was puzzled. how could this guy who was so wild on the field be so up front about burying the axe? My first thought was that it was a trap. but he persisted and we wound up drinking all night and went to the fabled Waffle House of which you speak after the bars closed. before school was out, we hung out a lot and also on breaks in college.

i regret not keeping in touch with him later on but I moved to California after school and then DC and didn't get home much. My memories are strong though and he was a great guy.

maybe we can get John E. from OS to tell the story of the time he and Ricky played in the Ole Miss golf tourney with the football and basketball coaches in attendance. great story.

travellinbaen · 1 year ago

I'm posting the following which was emailed to me today by "Ed." It addresses the golf tourney and other things:


As you can see from that blog, Ricky stories are many and much beloved. I met Ricky through soccer and socially through a high school frat. In soccer Ricky and Doug Stovall were universally disliked by non-GP players. Ricky's arrogance and hair, Stovall being short and whiney but good. I also dated a Gulfport girl for about 6-7 months in high school and she was friends with Jana Long, his high school sweetheart, as well as other GP girls. (Me DT and SM were collectively the Ocean Springs Guys). In college one time, I went down to Milsaps with Epting and Hilbun to pick up a friend of theirs at the dorm. The plan was to hit Hal and Mals etc. The friend had to go out the dorm window for some reason...who pops out behind her? Ricky. Got to the place we were staying at 6am after the obligatory stop at the Subway Lounge...complete with gigantic brown bag o beer purchased from the "home" next door. I have a memory of him buying the individually sold cigs at the convenience stores we stopped in for refreshments and putting them in the give a penny take a penny cup. Free smokes.

I also believe it was Ricky that started the summer craze in high school of partying on top of the Edgewater Mall. Somehow he found a way onto the top and my memory wants to say on at least two occasions we had upwards of 20 people on top of Gayfers drinking brew. He also had the habit of grabbing the mic at Krystals (Courthouse and Pass) and calling out orders while the cashier was away. So, about 2 am there would countless unclaimed burgers, fries and drinks sitting on the counter. I also think I saw Ricky mouth all the words to Change to Eden's tune 99...I have no idea why that is in the registry, but it is. It seemed Ricky always showed up at Nicholnoffs sweating...a frequent reply was "running from security". In retrospect, it was good he played soccer, he needed the endurance. Is all this true or is it just legend? Probably a little of both...the Peden Paradox...it works on so many levels.

Regarding the DT call out - Later in life Golf entered the picture - Ricky was working in the WorkersComp plan or Health Care plan field so he started attending the Municipal League golf tourneys, well, once we saw each other at these things the clients got kicked to the curb and we hooked up to create a formidable duo. It was like Laurel and Hardy on the golf course, each able to keep up with the others ridiculous antics and dry deadpanning. The city officials from the likes of Fulton, Weir, and Osyka that got dealt the Edwards/Peden hand had no idea what kind of day they had gotten themselves into. One year the tourney was at Sunkist CC in Biloxi and the girl driving the courtesy beverage cart pulls up with one or two holes to go. Ricky busts out a collapsible cooler from his golf bag and puts about 26 beers in it. Says nothing. Girl with a big OMG face says nothing. Country Mayor says Daaaaaaaaaayuuuuuuuuuuuuummm.

We finish the round. Sit at the bar talking til it closes. Ricky says "good thing I got those beers". We sit at the pool til way too late talking about all kinds of stuff. He especially wanted to enter his parade float in the OS or Goula parade. We never got the chance to do it. Much like your pal Bradford, Ricky wore long pants to golf, and probably for the same reason.


The pictures from those tournaments were priceless. We made faces in the background. So the giant bellied City Clerk from Conehatta would just be holding his pose after hitting a drive down the middle, but the pic would reveal Ricky and I down in the corner pointing sideways our faces displaying that his ball had caused a car wreck or broke a window. Ricky pulled out old soccer trophies from his golf bag for others to hold. I can't stop laughing about some of the comments and he's like "just hold them and smile please". (His legacy to me that I carry on to this very day - Cutcliffe holding my HS MVP Track Trophy was awesome) Unfortunately, I lost pretty much all memorabilia about my life prior to 2005, including my children's early years. Very regrettable.

In 2005 the municipal convention was scheduled to be in July but cancelled due to Dennis and moved to August (and cancelled due to Katrina). I don't think I knew about Ricky's passing until sometime after the Hurricane having missed our annual date at the Golf tourney. Frankly, my memory from summer of 05 to summer of 06 is severely impaired. Stoic as I my seem, the year of Katrina has forever impacted me. Ricky being a part of the loss heaped on a year of incredible misery and pain. As you well know, when traveling for work you would sometimes make stops to or from the place of destination in order to kill that gray hour that dictates driving back to work or going straight home, and when work would take me over Gulfport way, Ricky and I would meet for drinks at Oranatangs, Firedog? or some such place. (he was drinking Vodka and Red Bull at the time and the first time I saw his new drink of choice I couldn't decide how I felt about Ricky on Red Bull...I wonder if anybody else pondered this?). A very simple pleasure, to be sure, as Ricky was not one to turn down an opportunity for catching up on things with friends...of which had an untold multitude. I was thankful I had so much business in Bay St. Louis.

supercynic · 1 year ago

Ricky took me to Jamaica for one of my bachelor parties. The trip itself deserves more time/words than I can type, so I'll limit it to just how bad he and my wife kept it a secret.

I was sitting on the couch one Sunday night when the phone rang. My soon-to-be wife answered it (yes, we lived in sin for 6 months, but we were engaged) and then scurried off to another room. About 5 minutes later, she emerged with her hand over the phone to ask me the so-often-asked question, "Do you still have your passport?"

I gave her the WTF??? look and said I didn't. She then asked the next-so-often-asked question, "Do you know where your birth certificate is?" Again, WTF? and a "no." I then asked why she was asking me these questions. She babbled, consulted Ricky (he's the one who called), and then babbled some more about if I needed to go to another country would I be able to locate my passport or birth certificate. Of course by then I had to know who was on the phone and what was up. Ashley gave me the phone and Ricky came clean. To his credit though, he had already called my boss at the time and secured the days off for me. He also insisted on paying for everything.

So, in spite of the terrible clandestine attempt to secure my travel documents, a good time was had by all.

Sully · 1 year ago

Ricky was great at planning surprises. When my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, Ricky was very understanding and supportive after having just lost his Dad two years before. Well, after fighting for six months, my Dad died just a week before my birthday. I left town for several days for the funeral. When I came back, I really didn't have the energy to do anything special for my birthday and really didn't feel like celebrating. Well, leave it to Ricky... my wife called me to meet her for lunch at Blow Fly, but when I got there, I found a whole group of guys- Ricky, Koner, Jason, Justin and Corey (and perhaps others- my memory sucks) So after surprising me at lunch, I find that Ricky has planned a round of golf and beers for the rest of the afternoon. He had also called my boss to get me the day off. He just would not let me blow off my birthday to wallow in self-pity. It was just what I needed. What a great guy!

Ray · 1 year ago

Everyone still has time to go to the driving range and knock the rust off of your swings. The first annual Ricky Peden golf tournament is Sept. 5th. There is also a pre party the night before at the Blow Fly, this is open to everyone, so if golf is not your thing you can still come out and have fun.

Ray · 1 year ago

The first annual Ricky Peden tournament is a week away and we still have a few spots left.

supercynic · 1 year ago

Ray -- what's the Plan B given that Gustav is out there?

Ray · 1 year ago

The first annual Ricky Peden golf tournament has come and gone. I think a good time was had by all that was there. For the ones that could not make it this year we look forward to seeing you next year.