2005 Holcomb Youth Hall of Fame Award presented to Ricky Garcia
The Bob and Billie Holcomb Award guidelines say in part, “to provide a significant monetary reward to young people aged 8 to 18 years living in Benton County who have demonstrated exceptional acts of courage, bravery and/or altruism by their personal actions. This youth should have shown role-model behavior traits through patriotic action or meritorious displays of honesty or altruism above and beyond the normal call of duty or expectation.”
Ricky never has to be asked to do something. He is always looking. He always has a smile on his face despite losing both of his parents. He is president of the Keystone Club, which is a service club associated with the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis emphasizing character development and leadership. The Keystone Club members learn painting skills by volunteering to paint the club. Under Ricky’s leadership, they have conducted litter patrols in and around Corvallis. He talked to the Albany Boys and Girls Club into partnering with the Corvallis Keystone Club and both clubs participated in the “Great Oregon Beach Cleanup” in Newport. He teaches other kids to be leaders, and he tutors other kids with their homework. He is also a reading buddy.
Ricky has been coaching the younger kids in basketball and baseball for several years. Whenever there is a work party to maintain the baseball fields at Williams Field, Ricky is right there to help without being asked. He has volunteered for Hoop Jam for 5 or 6 years. He helped organize the state Keystone Conference. He never asks “What’s in it for me?” He’s an excellent student and played football at CHS. Ricky just makes other peoples’ lives richer for his presence.
Ricky exemplifies the all-around kid that Bob and Billie Holcomb had in mind. On behalf of The Benton County Foundation and Bob and Billy Holcomb, vice president Susan Schmidt presented Ricky with a plaque and a check for $4,000.