George Ricks

Director

George Ricks has served on the Board of Directors of the Shelton Heritage Society since the spring of 2025. A longtime community leader and advocate, George brings a lifetime of service, leadership, and historical knowledge to his role.

A graduate of Riverside High School (Class of 1968), George holds an Associate of Science degree from Chattanooga State Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is also a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga (1996), where he deepened his commitment to civic engagement and community development.

George served two terms on the Hamilton County School Board (District 4, 2008–2016), including terms as Vice Chair (2012–2014) and Chairman (2014–2015). He also served as an at-large member of the Tennessee School Board Association. A lifelong advocate for youth and education, George has volunteered at Howard High School since 1983 and continues to serve as the beloved announcer—known as the "Voice of the Hustlin’ Tigers"—for both football and basketball games.

He retired in 2018 after 27 years of service with Erlanger Health System’s Southside/Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers. Prior to that, he worked as a curator at the Chattanooga African-American Heritage Museum (1984–1991), where he led efforts in collections care, exhibitions, research, and education. He has curated pictorial histories of several historic Chattanooga schools, preserving vital local African American history.

George’s civic leadership includes service on the boards of the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, Henry Branch YMCA, Alton Park Development Corporation, Public Education Foundation, and many others. He has received numerous awards for his impact, including the Excellence in Public Education Award, the Urban League Outstanding Leadership Award, and the 100 Black Men of Chattanooga Pioneer Award for Volunteer/Community Service.

George is the husband of fellow board member Maria Ricks. Together, they continue to preserve and elevate the legacy of the Shelton family through community engagement, education, and historical preservation.