Rick and Vicki...
The Full Story
In March of 2026, Rick and Vicki sat down to share their story. For most of us, it was an ordinary day. For them, it marked something extraordinary — 56 years of marriage.
Fifty-six years of building a life together. Through military service, careers in industry, raising a family, camping trips, travel adventures, and the everyday moments that knit a lifetime together.
Thirteen years ago, that life shifted.
Rick still remembers sitting in the neurologist’s office and hearing the words: “You have Parkinson’s.” But when you ask him about that moment, he doesn’t speak of devastation. Instead, he smiles and says, “We were glad it wasn’t something worse. The doctor told us that with proper care and medication, it could be manageable.”
That perspective — steady, pragmatic, hopeful — has carried them forward. When Rick and Vicki moved to Huntsville, they were entering a new chapter. Vicki was looking for meaningful volunteer work. Rick was looking for support as he navigated this new diagnosis. Around that same time, Rock Steady Boxing–Rocket City (now part of Parkinson’s Dynamics) was just getting started.
The timing felt almost providential.
As the young organization grew quickly, volunteers were essential. Vicki stepped in to help with client registration and quickly became indispensable — welcoming new participants, organizing details, and supporting the mission in countless behind-the-scenes ways.
Meanwhile, Rick had his own questions.
“I knew Muhammad Ali had Parkinson’s,” he recalls. “But it was from boxing. How would boxing help improve Parkinson’s?”
Like many newcomers, he imagined participants sparring with one another. He laughs now remembering his relief when he discovered the heavy bags — not other people — were the target of those punches.
Today, Rick keeps showing up to work hard in the gym. Vicki keeps showing up to serve behind the scenes. On their 56th anniversary, they aren’t slowing down. They are still side by side.
Only now, they are fighting a different battle.
Together, they are fighting back against Parkinson’s.