He gave the food mixer to his mother, Maude, for her help and support with starting his art career. On May 2nd 1935 Rick won a twenty-two dollar Mixmaster food mixer in the Doyle’s Furniture Store contest, this boosted his confidence. Another quote from his diary said “ The president of Knox Laundry asked the girls’ sister if ‘Rick Fletcher didn’t do the drawing’. The third week he entered with a neighbor girls name and won again. The following week he used his little brother Eds name and won first place again. Rick also entered the Knox Laundry Anagram contest, winning three tickets to the Galesburg Illinois Orpheum Theater. His diary entry said “ Made twenty six cents ”. Rick would design and draw paper dolls and Martha would sell them at school to her friends. In March, an 18 year old Rick and his younger sister Martha started a small business. Ricks career growth in 1935 was quite remarkable. Frequently asked how he learned his art skills, “I say that I go to art school at the library.”Īfter graduating from Burlington High School with the class of 1934, Rick and his family moved to Galesburg, Illinois where his father worked for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as a fireman on the steamers and later as an engineer on the stainless steel Burlington Zephyr his mother was a happy homemaker that loved to raise her family and cook wonderful meals including Eggplant Parmesan, Ricks favorite home cooked meal. Encouraged by his mother, he drew every day and studied art and anatomy books from the local library teaching him perspective, composition, color and technique. At an early age, Rick had a keen interest with drawing. He was the second of four children: Russell, Richard, Martha and Edward. Rick Fletcher was born in Burlington, Iowa on Jto William and Maude Fletcher.