Rickey Lee Hobbs was born in Waynesville, Missouri, on December 17, 1960, the son of Francis Junior Hobbs and Bonnie June (Boren) Hobbs Fritts. After Rick’s birth, the family moved to Richland, where he attended school and lived out his life as a public servant.

On June 6, 1981, Rick married his soulmate, Robin Lynn Helms. They shared over 40 years of marriage while proudly raising their son, Russell, who he raised to be a successful career firefighter.

Rick had a wonderful work ethic and began working early in life at such places as Independent Stave, Ozark Fisheries, and H.E. Builds Gates. He worked as a lineman for the City of Richland for 29 years. He soon found a love for emergency services. He was a sergeant with Richland Police Department. He obtained his EMT license and served a term as a Pulaski County Ambulance District board member.

In 1980, Rick joined the all-volunteer Richland Fire Department and in 1983 became the fire chief. In 1990, the City of Richland decided to stop providing protection to the rural area surrounding Richland. Rick could not bear the thought of those people being left unprotected, so he formed Tri-County Fire & Rescue Association to protect those residents. He served as the chief of both departments. In 1997, Richland Fire disbanded and contracted protection to Tri-County. Rick built the department from the ground up, starting with a 1953 Chevy Pumper and hand-me-down equipment. In 2018, Rick received an opportunity to become a career fireman. He began working for the Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District as a battalion chief.

Rick became a member of the Fire Fighter Association of Missouri. He was the president and a founding member of the Pulaski and Laclede County Fire Chiefs Associations. He was the emergency management director for the City of Richland and worked at the annual University of Missouri’s (MU) Winter Fire School Expo. These are just a few things Rick was involved with; if truth be known, there are many more that could be listed.

Rick greatly loved his family. They were his true treasures in life, especially his beautiful granddaughters, Nadia and Alaina, who were Poppy’s pride and joy. He also had a newfound love of camping, golf carts, and Ford 9N tractors.

The community was greatly blessed to have such a man as Rick who truly did have a servant’s heart. His devotion and dedication were unmatched. Though he may be gone from our sight, Rick Hobbs’s legacy will live on forever.

The Lord is with you, You mighty warrior. Judges 6:12