Rick, originally from western Pennsylvania, moved to Androscoggin County in 1984 where he served as the director of the Lewiston Public Library for 33 years prior to retiring in 2017. Many of his lifelong interests revolve around his love for Maine’s wild landscapes. Over the years he has backpacked the entire Appalachian Trail in Maine and has canoed many of the state’s waterways. A volunteer stint as a guide at Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary led him to an interest in the flora of Maine which he nourishes through his involvement with the Josselyn Botanical Society and his work as a Plant Conservation Volunteer with the New England Wildflower Society. Other community commitments include serving on the Boards of Directors of both the Maine Humanities Council and the Auburn Nordic Ski Association.