Rick started campaigning against smoking shortly after his wife, Marie, was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 1999 due to cigarette smoking. Marie died five and a half months later in January 2000.[1]
Since then, he has been a speaker at various schools and colleges across America. As part of these campaigns, Rick typically shares his personal experiences and provides in-depth, educational information on marketing tactics that tobacco companies use to lure non-smokers. He also speaks to teachers, school administrators and local politicians. During one of these presentations he made clear his views towards the tobacco companies:
When the tobacco industry states they will not advertise to youngsters in this country, they are lying, plain and simple. I travel all around the country talking to anyone trying to stop this and if I can stop one teenager from smoking, that’s a good day.[2]
His career as a carpenter has dwindled as his campaigning against tobacco companies and tobacco use increased. It has been reported that he is on the road up to 200 days a year, leaving little time for carpentry.[3]