Writing about Rick Tidwell who died Saturday at age 65 from advanced melanoma is difficult because Rick was not only as valuable a business partner as you could ever have, he was also a friend.
Interestingly, I wouldn’t list Rick as my closest friend, but one of my “best” friends because he was so reliable. Our fellow longtime business partner Stormy Supiran put it best saying “if you ask Rick for a favor, you could consider it done!”
Several weeks ago Rick told me about his bad diagnoses telling me he likely would not be able to speak at my funeral as I had requested but that maybe…well….he broke down, but I’m sure he wanted me to talk at his. So, with his services delayed due to Covid here goes.
Rick was a veteran EMT and firefighter in the early ’80s when he inquired if my company, Valu Line Long Distance would consider selling small telephone systems in Emporia? Rick saw an opportunity. We started a partnership with Rick working on his days off. It wasn’t long before success forced Rick to join us full-time. Shortly thereafter we recruited Stormy and our lifelong partnership was born.
Rick’s importance to Valu Line’s success was enormous with maybe most impressive being his grasp of regulatory and legal matters. Heck, we never employed a telecom lawyer even though we appeared regularly before the Kansas Corporation Commission and the FCC.
The Bell Companies told the FCC they were willing to cooperate with CLEC’s – Competitive Local Exchange Carriers like us, but no one had requested their assistance. Valu Line changed that and our request was rewarded with a contract from Southwestern Bell that was 4” thick. Tidwell took it home. The next morning he summoned Stormy and me to share his findings. Quickly we decided we could sign and return that massive document!
When we called SW Bell to inform them the signed contract was on its way back to them – well you could hear the proverbial pin drop. You see, the offer Ma Bell was making to us was a ruse. We had called their bluff – a fact that later was not lost at the FCC! Rick Tidwell became an industry hero!
Valu Line had a great team with Rick’s contributions absolutely irreplaceable!
After the merger with Birch, Rick commuted to Kansas City for 5 years and was a major player, but his skill and knowledge were never fully appreciated. The merger was a stressful adventure for all former Valu Line members.
After Birch, Rick applied his creative talents in several places. You see, Rick was a very unique person. Being the son of parents who both possessed very strong personalities he was never lost for words or ideas.
Rick’s biggest dream was to see Emporia better served by the internet. Meaning by someone other than Ma Bell. During our Valu Line days, a company put fiber in abandon natural gas lines crossing northwest Emporia. Rick and I visited with them about letting us hook up but they refused.
We talked and dreamed many times about what a fiber connection could mean for Emporia. Rick never forgot!
His persistence paid off about ten years ago when he learned the old Kansas Cellular owners were building a new fiber network in Kansas with Emporia in their plans!!
His dream was now for real! This was Rick’s project and he invited me in because of my experience in building a company and in fundraising – certainly not for my telecom knowledge. We made a trip to Nebraska where a former colleague had created a functioning “fiber to the premises” company.
We considered becoming a subsidiary. After creating a rough business plan we invited Bobbie Agler, our CFO at Valu Line to take a look. He critiqued our work as only Bob could do. The three of us plowed ahead.
Suddenly we collectively concluded that if we added Stormy to our team we could make ValuNet FIBER a reality in Emporia without outside help.
That statement was partially true. All we were missing with Stormy on board was about 6 million dollars!
Amazingly, the rest is history. We were able to raise over 8 million invested dollars with most of it coming from Emporians!
It was a team effort, but Rick was definitely our leader with Stormy and Bob adding invaluable contributions. Our investors were richly rewarded recently with a very successful merger with Sparklight.
All these business stories are just a part of Rick’s life.
Rick was rightfully proud of his family – mom Margie, dad Bill, brothers Dale, and Lon.
Mrs. Tidwell, Rick’s wife Sarah, a retired nurse and educator might have been the only human capable of standing up to Rick. Their relationship was epic.
Proud is a massive understatement when Rick talked about his sons!
Phillip, a Professor of Architecture lives in Finland with his wife Liesl. They often spend time in the States teaching at the collegiate level.
Christopher grew up around race cars and wreckers and now is a valuable NASCAR mechanic living in North Carolina with his wife Stephanie and their children, Ryder (4) and River (18 months). And, yes, the grandkids controlled Rick !
Friends? I said earlier that Rick was one of my “best” friends. No doubt many other people are saying Rick Tidwell was one of their “best” friends too.
Not knowing all Rick’s friends I won’t mention any names, but I do know he and his friends liked practical jokes. Can you imagine a smoke alarm hidden in your attic with a bad battery chirping away? Rick could!
Rick’s legendary coffee club will undoubtedly miss his playful presence!
Rick liked things with wheels – like cars, trucks, race cars, motor cycles, motor homes, tractors, backhoes, dump trucks, bucket trucks, wreckers, and so on. If asked to participate in anything involving wheels Rick was “in!”
Rick was a good citizen too. He was currently on the RDA Board and Chair of Emporia Enterprises. He had previously served on the Newman Hospital Board and Emporia Community Foundation Board. He and Sarah we strong supporters of SOS, Emporia State University, and the United Way.
Rick was so damn smart, especially if the topic was telecom related. What’s amazing is he was completely self-taught. Paired with Stormy and their dedicated and talented associates no challenges were too big. Emporia internet users are indebted to Rick and his crew.
So sad it has to end this way.
My life is much richer because Rick Tidwell was a part of it. I loved and respected him and I am extremely proud to have been his partner. Rest in Pease Rick and please Lord, take care of my friend he was loved!
I’m Steve Sauder
