Mike Weesner

Rick was a longtime friend of mine and I met Rick about the time my brother passed away. Rick was a good friend and brother. We took karate together, hunted together and fished all the time. In those days, we were in his step-dad’s 12 foot V-haul 15hp boat most weekends. Rick loved to fish and he  had a wonderful sense of humor and when we got together, it was always filled with fun and laughter. One of our favorite sayings when we were together was  yelling “Got One” at the top of our lungs. Meaning that we had caught a big fish. It didn’t matter where we were and you may have heard us yelling it out when we ran into each other at the 40 year reunion. After graduation, Rick and his brother Jimmy bought the auto electric shop downtown and renamed it Russell Brothers auto electric and eventually moved it over by Service Merchandise. Also, Rick became a Christian and that’s when he met his wife to be Rhonda Ashburn (class of 77). They fell in love, married and had four children.  So after it was all said and done, it was Rick, Rhonda, Ryan, Riley, Ross and Reanna. I believe Rick has at least three grandchildren as well. Rick eventually moved to the Bristol, TN area near his wife’s family over 30 years ago and opened up another auto electric store there. I’ll miss you Rick but I know I’ll see you again brother.