Rick C. White

Ricky C. White joined this world in a boom of post-WWII babies on October 25, 1948. His parents, Bernice and Garland White, lived in Iowa at the time and instilled in him a deep love of the midwest and its culture. And apple pie. The son of an electrician and a homemaker, Ricky grew up all over the U.S. Some places he loved (Minnesota) and some places he did not (Louisiana). Eventually, he landed in Coahoma, Texas, where he graduated high school in 1967. After a summer working for his dad, digging ditches, he decided manual labor was not going to be his future. Ricky figured college was his best bet at a different life and eventually made his way to Sam Houston State University. With little financial or emotional support, he continued to pursue his goal. Along the way, he dropped the “y” and became known as Rick White.

College opened up a world of opportunities. He joined “Kats for Christ,” the college ministry at the Huntsville Church of Christ. One evening, he was playing guitar and singing “Patches” at the student center when a beautiful young woman joined in, singing harmony to his melody. He was thunderstruck. Rick was determined to find out who she was and ask her out. And that’s how Janis Hale became Janis White.

Rick and Janis were married on August 18, 1973 in Alvin, Texas. After the wedding, they jumped in the car and drove to Iowa City, Iowa, where Rick started a Ph.D. program in Chemistry. It was their biggest adventure yet – they were dirt poor and happy as could be – and in 1977, Rick became “Dr. White.” He completed his post-doctoral studies at the University of Arkansas and welcomed his son, John Wheatley White, into the world. He eventually accepted a teaching position at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and settled into adult life. His life only grew happier when they welcomed a healthy baby girl, Katherine Marie White, in 1981.

One April snow storm too many drove Janis to convince Rick to take a teaching position at Sam Houston State University in the early 1980s. They moved to Huntsville, Texas, built a house, and lived there for the next 35 years. Rick taught Organic Chemistry and pursued his research while Janis started her career at Sam Houston State University. “The Drs. White” were a regular fixture on campus and at Huntsville Church of Christ, where Rick served as a deacon for many years.

Dr. White loved chemistry and he loved being in the lab. During his tenure, he served as the chair of his department, published 37 peer-reviewed articles, and was awarded 21 grants totaling more than $5.2 million dollars. He spent several summers as a visiting professor at a university in Würzburg, Germany. Eventually, Rick and Janis co-created a study abroad course, sharing their love of chemistry, textiles, and international travel with over a hundred students.

Along the way, his family grew. He gained a son-in-law and watched in pride as his children went to graduate school and pursued careers in education. He discovered why being a grandparent really is the best when John Edward Stanfield III and Emma Stanfield came along. A series of strokes led to challenging physical setbacks; however, Rick’s tenacity has always been unmatched. He worked as hard as he could to regain as much mobility as possible.

In 2017, Rick was named Professor Emeritus. He taught for a few more years before another big stroke advanced his timeline for retirement. He continued to do everything possible to support his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. Eventually, his body was no longer able to support him. He passed from this world, surrounded by his loved ones, on August 3, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Janis White; his son, John White, and his fiancee, Heather Crowley; his granddog, Kira; his daughter, Katie Stanfield; her husband, John Stanfield Jr., and his grandchildren, John Stanfield III and Emma Stanfield.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of several causes that were near and dear to Rick’s heart:

Express condolences to the family at www.CallawayJones.com.