Walter Jackson Hicks

Jack was my professor, mentor, and friend from when I entered the then-new creative writing MA program in 1985. He helped me a lot with my writing, and I have always been grateful to him. We last spoke on the phone about 3 years before he died; I was trying to arrange a visit the week that I learned of his death. RIP, Jack. You were funny and brilliant and I'll never forget you.

Professor Hicks was an inspirational mentor to me. I am pretty sure he was not a religious man, but I pray that God rest his soul.

Jack was a very good friend with my late husband and the entire Baker family dearly loved Jack. I will miss him so much.

I just came across this obituary today and it saddens me. I considered Jack a friend, softball teammate and confidant during a residence in Davis during the late `70´s and early `80´s. My favorite story about Jack would be the time I dropped by for a visit and on the way to quench our thirst at the Paragon, we detoured through the letter drop lane at the post office. Upon depositing his tax return in the box, he announced with his usual irony, "My greatest work of fiction so far!" My your...

Meeting Jack was like meeting a character from a great novel or movie, the kind they don't make anymore, brilliant, acidic, and wildly entertaining. His deep reverence for writing was matched only by his utter irreverence toward the overblown hoo-ha that surrounds it. He gave me permission to laugh at the world, and it's a gift I treasure to this day. Thanks, Jack.

I am so grateful to have wandered across this announcement. I feel fortunate to have been able to take seminar classes in Creative Writing from Jack. He was Kind, encouraging and excited by our fledgling attempts at loving words. So lucky to have watched, listened and be encouraged to brave our own ideas. Grateful.