Dennis Rickard was the youngest of five sons born to John T. and Marion Foster Rickard in what became known as the “baby boomer” years following World War II. His father was mayor that year, and Dennis’s pride in his heritage — the Rickard family is directly descended from the De la Guerra and Oreña families that settled the area in the 18th century — emerged time and again throughout his life. One of his first appearances in public life was in his second year when the entire family rode in the Fiesta Parade in the mayorʼs carriage. Dennisʼs trip up State Street that August was the first of many he would travel — as participant, parade worker, and parade director — finally culminating as El Presidente, an office his father held when the festival restarted in the early postwar years.
For young Dennis, daily life was a show-and-tell by his brothers of how to navigate the world. He went along on every adventure, from hiking with Mr. Page, an old family friend, to his first horseback rides on the family ranch, brandings and barbecues, swimming through the summer at the Montecito Country Club, and school in the fall. As the years progressed, Dennis attended the same schools as his brothers, Dolores parochial (now Notre Dame), Santa Barbara Junior High, and then Santa Barbara High School.
Dennis learned to carve his own path, gaining confidence in sports and studies. He excelled in football, as had his brothers, at Santa Barbara High School, earning his teamʼs top honor with the 1970 “Hard Nose Award,” given to the team’s most outstanding defensive player, along with All-League honors.
