Janice Ricks – 6/25/11
Vice President, LJP Leasing
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Janice Ricks is the owner and President of her own public relations firm, Janice Ricks and Associates – Public Relations, and is the Vice President of Lester Industries, Inc. as well as Vice President of LJP Leasing, a company that specializes in leasing office, medical and manufacturing equipment. She serves in a leadership role on the board of many civic, governmental, educational, and health organizations.
A member of the Association of United States Army since 1992, Janice Ricks became actively involved in the local Alamo Chapter in 1994 when asked to serve as a member of the Executive Committee, member of the Board of Directors and chairman of the public relations committee responsible for coordinating the publishing of the local chapter’s newsletter and responsible for creating awareness in the military and civilian community of the goals, objectives and benefits of supporting and belonging to the Association of United Army.
Elected president of the local chapter in 1996, she worked diligently with the chapter’s leadership and its members to develop a Plan of Action with goals and objectives to insure that the Association of the United States Army’s mission to keep America’s Army strong. The identified goals and objectives were to give people support for those in the Army including Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, Department of the Army Civilians, Retirees and family members; to support force modernization, insuring a well-trained Army equipped for the future; to create awareness and promote public education about the army both locally (community/military relations); and to promote professionalism within the Army, developing a sense of pride in the uniform, the unit, the Army and America.
She helped to initiate quarterly luncheons with outstanding military, civilian and political speakers that were both timely and informative as well as of interest to soldiers, both active and retired, the Guard and Reserve, Department of the Army civilians and members and the specially invited business and professional guests from the community and the media. A portion of the program was, and continues to be, dedicated to recognizing and rewarding soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and members for outstanding service and accomplishments.
Her long established rapport and influential relations with local media and her demonstrated credibility with her peers as an able representative of her business and service organizations for project fund raising and policy issue dissemination has enabled the chapter to promote and build awareness in the non military community and helped to fund additional programs benefiting soldiers and their families.
Working with Fort Sam Houston, she helped to develop a broad based invitational list of potential friends of the Army enabling Fort Sam Houston to invite to them to observe various field exercises and maneuvers that demonstrated the quality and caliber of today’s soldiers.
During her two-year term as president of the local Alamo chapter of AUSA, the chapter was awarded the Best Chapter Overall for both years. Under her leadership, the chapter broadened their spouse support activities. Recognition and support programs were implemented for soldiers being deployed and returning soldiers were appropriately welcomed home. Currently she serves as the Association of United States Army Region IVState President.
On the local, county, state and federal level, she tirelessly works, without partisan bias, on political campaigns, which support and promote issues in which she believes. Because of her diligence on behalf of various and diverse campaigns, she has unique access to politicians and corporate leaders who value her political assessment of issues, which she does not hesitate to use when it comes to seeking help for our military when it comes to housing and quality of life issues for our men and women in uniform.
She participated in the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce SA to DC Trip visiting the Pentagon and meeting with members of Congress on issues involving military healthcare, Brooke Army Medical Center facilities, military construction program, defense budget, San Antonio military water efforts, military housing, public-private potential opportunities at Fort Sam Houston, beneficial reuse of facilities at Fort Sam Houston, seek solutions to the funding problems of the coterminous military school districts located in San Antonio, and other issues directly related to the military installations located in San Antonio.
Recognizing Janice’s rapport and knowledge of the San Antonio community, the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and SportsLink asked for her input when they decided to hold the second annual U.S. Army Recruiting Command All American Bowl game in San Antonio. Immediately after game, she was asked to chair the 2003 U.S. Army Recruiting Command All American Bowl City Host committee and continued as chairman for the 2004 game. After which she recruited the successor for 2005.
Janice served four years as president of the Association of United States Army (AUSA) and she continues to be actively involved. She teasingly says her blood “runs green,” and because of her support and commitment to the Army, its soldiers and their families, her friends and colleagues believe it to be true.
MILITARY RECOGNITION:
Janice Ricks has received many certificates and plaques, too numerous to name all, from the Army Medical Department Center and School and Fort Sam Houston including Brigade and Battalion levels as well as receiving recognition from the Association of United States Army (AUSA) 4th Region for support and services. Listed below are a just a few that she has received.
JOINT CIVILIAN ORIENTATION CONFERENCE – Selected to attend the Secretary of Defense’s Joint Civilian
Orientation Conference 63, April 29-May 7, 2000.
THE OUTSTANDING CIVILIAN SERVICE AWARD and MEDAL – Signed by Lieutenant General Ronald R. Blanck on May 11, 1998 and presented by Major General James B. Peake on June 12, 1998. “Janice Ricks is awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for extra ordinary voluntary service to numerous civilian and military programs at Fort Sam Houston, Texas from May 1997 to May 1998. She significantly impacted the quality of life for the soldiers at Fort Sam Houston. Mrs. Ricks’ distinguished service reflects great credit upon her, Fort Sam Houston, and the U.S. Army.”
HONORARY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY MEDICL DEPARTMENT REGIMENT – Presented by Lieutenant General Ronald D. Blanck on June 11,1999. “This Appointment Recognizes Janice Ricks for the Significant Contributions to Regimental Continuity, Tradition, and Espirit de Corps.”
HONORARY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT REGIMENT OF BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER – Presented by Major General Ogden DeWittin December, 1999and signed by Lieutenant General Ronald R. Blank.
SECRETARY OF THE ARMY PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD and MEDAL – Presented by Lt. General Freddie E. McFarren, Commander of Fifth Army, and signed by Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White on May 29, 2002. “Janice M. Ricks has distinguished herself as a volunteer to the Army from January 1991 to May 2002. During this period, Mrs. Ricks’ personal involvement and sincere commitment to myriad programs greatly enhanced the quality of life for soldiers, their families, and civilians. Mrs. Ricks devoted time and resources in support of organizations such as the Association of the United States Army and established a scholarship fund for soldiers in honor of past presidents of the Association. Mrs. Ricks’ dedicated service to the Army is in keeping with the highest tradition of public service. These achievements reflect great credit upon Mrs. Ricks and the Department of the Army.”
ACADEMY BATTALION CENTER BRIGADE, AMEDD CENTER& SCHOOL Certificate of Appreciation – Presented by Lieutenant Colonel, Commander Academy Battalion, on May 3, 2002 for exceptionally outstanding support to the Academy Battalion’s April 14, 2002, Bataan Death March Team.
ORDER OF MILITARY MEDICAL MERIT – On May 20, 2004 Lieutenant General James B. Peake, Surgeon General of the Unites Army inducted Janice Ricks into the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3) recognizing that her dedicated application of talent, effort and spirit has made a significant, exemplary contribution to the United States Army Medical Department.
MEDICAL COMMAND DR. MARY E WALKER AWARD – Signed on May 30, 2006, and presented on June 25, 2006, at the Fort Sam Houston Gazebo Concert by Lt. General George Weightman for demonstrating dedicated and exemplary volunteerism that improved the quality of life for soldiers and their families. This is an exceptional honor as this award is reserved for military wives. Dr. Mary C. Walker is the only woman in the United States history to receive the Medal of Honor. She became one of the first women physicians in the country in 1855. Dr. Walker was denied a commission as an Army surgeon because of her gender. She served as an unpaid volunteer in Washington in various military camps, and in a hospital for Indiana troops. She was instrumental in establishing an organization which aided needy women who came to Washington to visit wounded relatives. She served as a field surgeon on a volunteer basis, rendering assistance at tent hospitals in Virginia. She was eventually appointed as an assistant surgeon and assigned to the 52d Ohio Regiment. With immense courage and bravery, rarely matched, Dr. Walker demonstrated her dedication to the American cause at gr3eat personal risk. She consistently discounted personal injuries and great hardships to care for others. She was captured and a prisoner of war for four months before being freed in a prisoner exchange. Through her actions, Dr. Mary E. Walker set the standards for helping to improve soldiers’ quality of life for generations.
The Department of the awarded her the DECORATION FOR DISTINGUISHED CIVILIAN SERVICE. CITATION: for exceptional distinguished civilian service to the Soldiers, Families, and the United States Army Accessions Command from June 2002 to January 201l. Mrs. Ricks’ dedicated support of the United States Army All American Bowl made a tremendous impact on the success of the Bowl and Army outreach. Her efforts contributed significantly to growing the Bowl into the Nation’s premier height school football all-star game. She is a true volunteer champion whose presence and sincerity have made an extraordinary difference. Mrs. Ricks’ enormous contributions to the Army reflect great credit upon her, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, and the United States Army. Signed by John M. McHugh, Secretary of the Army and presented on January 7, 2010.
MILITARY HONORS
Selected to attended the United States Army War College National Security Council in June 1998
Selected to attended the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference sponsored by the Secretary of Defense in April2000
Selected to serve on the Association of the United States Army Resolution Committee alternate in 2001 & 2002
OFFICES HELD
Association of United States Army Alamo Chapter Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Chairman of Public Relations, 1994-1995
Association of United States Army Alamo Chapter Executive Committee President-Elect, 1995-1996
Association of United States Army Alamo Chapter Executive Committee & Board of Directors President 1996-1997, 1997-1998 (2-year term)
Association of United States Army Alamo Chapter Executive Committee Past President 1998-1999, 1999-2000
Association of United States Army Alamo Chapter Board of Directors and Chairman of Special Projects and Chapter Activity Reports 2000-2001, 2001-2002
Employer Support Guard & Reserve (ESGR) State Awards Chairman, 2001-2992
Chaired the Steering & Planning Committee for the AUSA 4th Regional meeting, March 2002
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Steering Committee, 1994-Present
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Special Events Chairman, 1999, 2001
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Military Liaison Chairman, 2001-Present
United States Army All-American High School Football Bowl 2001 – Present
United States Army All-American High School Football Bowl Host Committee Chairman 2002-05
United States Army All-American High School Football Bowl Wives’ Luncheon -2007-09
Celebrate America’s Military Committee member, a weeklong celebration honoring all military, past and present, 1999-Present
Association of United States Army State President Region IV, 2002-09
San Antonio Community Action Committee (Recruiting Command), 2007-Present
Hosts,
Bjorn Dybdahl of Bjorn's
John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty
Scott Woolfolk of Documation
Sponsors
