Ormonde RICKETTS

Coach I´m just finding out about this. You had a lot to do with me growing up. You were one of kind and will always be missed. Thanks for everything. RIP sir

I was home in Springfield last weekend taking my granddaughter to meet my mother, Nancy Ronemus, who still lives there. She told me about Coach Ricketts passing away. I played on the North high panthers football team under coaches Ron Deem and Tom Palmer. I think Coach Ricketts joined as coach my junior year which would have been the fall of 71. Maybe it was 72? He coached the offensive and defensive lines so he didn’t coach me directly, But we had a lot of contact. He was such an inspiring...

I am so sorry about the passing of Mr Ricketts, he was my Gym teacher in the 80s at Schaffer. I ran into him 2 years ago when he was in the hospital, still exactly the same, so nice, friendly, smile on his face, I brought my old year books up for him to look at, he got a kick out of it , pictures of him out on the football field, looking and remembering the students. Time went so fast. Sending my condolences to his family, he was a very special person that touched so many lives. He will never...

I miss remembered the song Ormonde sang. It was “The Old Rugged Cross.” It was my grandma who sang “In The Shade of the Old Apple Tree.” I have been remembering so many great times with Ormonde, and I’m so grateful for them.

So very sorry for your loss. Prayers for the family.

Coach Ricketts was a very passionate coach and teacher. He only wanted to make each kid better. He was under appreciated at Schaffer. He did make a difference for some. Thankful to have known him.

Ormonde and I have known each other since grade school and became best buddies since high school. We shared so many good times like playing baseball together, the big adventure fishing in Michigan before taking off for college, the time he made my grandparents laugh till they cried singing “In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree.” He impressed us with his whole poem rendition of “The Village Blacksmith” and “Casey at the Bat.” Sadly, time, distance, and illness has kept us apart of late, but...

A Springfield H.S. legend who touched many young men over the years. Anyone who ever coached with Ormonde loved him. He will not be forgotten