many years as Father Rick.
Ricardo (Rick) Ruiz was
born in El Paso on Sept. 1,
1966. His father, Manuel, was
a silver smith and jeweler, and
his mother Julia ran the house-
hold of eight children, of
whom Rick was the second
youngest. The family was musi-
cal; an old upright piano
graced the parlor, and one
brother played cello. Rick’s
early music inclinations were
developed in elementary school
choir, and he started piano les-
sons at age 12. He loved to
dance, and drumming was his
first musical choice.
Elementary school right on
the Mexico border line was fol-
lowed by Eastwood High
School where Rick played soc-
cer. His musical interests re -
mained strong. In his senior
year at high school, Rick was
active in his church’s youth
group. After high school he
entered the University of
Texas, El Paso, while he lived at
St. Charles Seminary. He grad-
uated in 1988 with a B.A. in
philosophy.
A scholarship to The Uni -
ver sity of the Lake, Mundelein
Seminary, north of Chicago
was the next move. He loved
the change to a large city with
plentiful music performances.
At the university Rick directed
music groups. He earned his
Master of Divinity and was
ordained in 1992. Returning to
El Paso, he was named associ-
ate pastor at St. Pius X Church,
his first assignment. His next
posting was to Alpine.
He served the area of
Alpine, Marathon and Fort
Davis for three years as associ-
ate pastor under Father Nam
Kim and quickly became
hugely popular. He could lis-
ten, and he could connect with
people. His smile was infec-
tious. In 1997 Father Nam
Kim left, and Father Rick took
over. His band, Mariachi de la
Paz, which he founded at this
time, was proving popular.
After eight years as a priest
came the awareness that the
calling of the priesthood was
no longer so strong. What had
been a hobby, playing music,
was now a passion. This might
have put him at odds with his
church, but from his supportive
congregation to the sympathet-
ic bishop, his departure from
the priesthood in 2005 was
made easier.
Talking five years later
about this radical change, Rick
reflects on his departure from
the priesthood. Playing music
simply became his number one
objective, he says, without
going into details. He has
widened the band’s repertoire
to Tejano, country and rock
and added band members.
The group today comprises his
nephew Jimmy on percussion,
accomplished guitarist Tony
Lujan from Alpine and, if re -
quired, a keyboard player from
Ojinaga, Mayito Palomino.
Rick seems at ease having
left the church’s security for an
independent life as a working
musician and DJ. “I welcome
change: I have a foot in both
worlds, and I’m doing what I
love.”
LUCY FERGUSON
Lucy McBride was born on
a farm in Cresco, Iowa on June
16, 1967, the youngest of seven
girls out of a total of 12 chil-
dren. Her father Anthony was
a farmer who later drove the
school bus and played steel gui-
tar. He still plays today at age
88. Lucy remembers singing at
age 5 while doing the dishes
and also singing in public with
her sisters.
Lucy generally missed out
on family jam sessions, being
deemed too young. She also
usually hung out with boys, and
perhaps it was these factors
which caused her to pick trom-
bone, traditionally a boy’s in -
strument, and compete to gain
attention. She liked being bet-
ter than boys. From the fifth
grade she knew she wanted to
be a band director. She was
well taught at the local high
school, from which she gradu-
ated in 1985, in band, choir
and theater and went on to the
University of Northern Iowa to
continue her music studies.
There she met a “frisky
Texan” from Garland called
John Ferguson who was also
studying music and played
trumpet. John graduated
ahead of her, but they contin-
ued dating over the phone until
they married in June 1989,
shortly after her graduation.
There followed intense can-
vassing to find two jobs in
music in the same place.
Presidio fell into their laps, and
she describes it as a quick and
easy hire. Since then they both
have been entirely comfortable
in Presidio. She loves the place
and says “my antifreeze is
gone.” Their two children,
Max and Molly, bilingual in
Spanish and English, are
equally at home there.
Climate and cultural differ-
ences have had little effect on
the musical progress of Lucy
and John. They started the
Resonators in 2004 with Tony
Lujan and Terry Davidson plus
a drummer. With some
changes they have continued,
usually managing to play every
weekend. Their conjunto
music is particularly popular at
Hispanic events, but their
repertoire is much broader, and
to hear the nine-person band in
full swing with Lucy’s trom-
bone and John’s trumpet pre-
dominating is something to
remember.
At Presidio Middle School
Lucy’s progress has been equal-
ly productive. Lucy has ener-
gized her students and taught
them well. Recent productions
included a jazz concert at a
dinner theater event, when 300
parents and friends turned up.
She also staged with her music
students The Pirates of Penzance,
and “they loved doing it.”
Clearly she is having success.
In June 2010 she was awarded
the Golden Apple Award for
her work (“for the teacher who
goes above and beyond”). John
is equally active at school and
also in local politics (he previ-
ously was mayor).
From the fields of Iowa to
the banks of the Rio Grande,
this music talent has travelled
well.
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Cenizo
Fourth Quarter 2010
21