James B. Ricketts

Virginia Beach - James B. Ricketts, 75, died March 23, 2016, at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.

Mr. Ricketts was born August 21, 1940, in Honolulu, HI to the late Adm. Claude V. Ricketts and Marjorie C. Ricketts. As a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, IA (1963), Naval Officer Candidate School and Naval Supply Corps School (1964), Mr. Ricketts served in the United States Navy as an accomplished commissioned officer. He spent four years overseas in financial management for U.S. Naval Station Atsugi, Japan. In 1972, Mr. Ricketts transitioned his career to the travel industry, administrating cruise activity and managing the Cruise Service Bureau for the Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority.

He worked 42 years in public service for the City of Virginia Beach managing the city's tourism renaissance through innovation, development and leadership excellence. As director of the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mr. Ricketts humbly dedicated his career to both local and national growth of the travel industry as a board member of the U.S. Travel Association. He served in numerous regional, state and national leadership capacities including: Travel Industry Association of America Government Relations Committee, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Southeast Tourism Society, Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, Virginia Delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Travel and Tourism, Governor's Commission on Development of the Virginia Travel and Tourism Industry, Virginia Travel Council, Atlantic Coastal Attractions and Ocean Highway Association.

Mr. Ricketts was a pioneer for the City of Virginia Beach through his tremendous work ethic and passion for regional tourism, diversity and inclusion. He was a founding member of the Coastal Virginia Tourism Alliance and established the Virginia Beach Travel and Tourism Foundation. He received the honorable Dorothy Hardman Spirit of Southeast Tourism Society award, which recognizes professionals who epitomize the greatest attributes of the tourism industry. Under Mr. Ricketts' leadership, the tourism department was honored four times with prestigious Destinations Council Destiny awards, the Travel and Tourism Research Association of America's J. Desmond Slattery Marketing Award and several Southeast Tourism Society Shining Example awards.

He and his wife, Jean, travelled the states extensively and enjoyed many wonderful memories together. Compassion, kindness, humbleness and humor were qualities that guided Mr. Ricketts throughout his personal and professional life. He was a caring and loving family man who treasured working in the yard, caring for his vintage cars and walking his best four-legged pal, Buffy. He was preceded in death by his son Sean T. Ricketts and is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jean Champion Ricketts; son, Todd Ricketts; brother, Rear Adm. Myron Ricketts and wife Marilyn; nephews Bruce Ricketts and Eric Ricketts; daughters Cari Bartz and Pamela Wooline; and several grandchildren.

A service will be held Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Virginia Beach Travel and Tourism Foundation, where a memorial scholarship has been established in his name. Donations can be mailed to the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, ATTN: Scholarship Fund, 2101 Parks Avenue Suite 500, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Please make checks payable to the Virginia Beach Travel and Tourism Foundation. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com