Merrill Riddick

Background

He was born on March 7, 1895 in Madison, Wisconsin. His father, Carl W. Riddick, served two terms as a United States. Congressman for the Eastern District of Montana in 1919 and 1921.

Career

He moved to eastern Montana at the age of 11. At the age of 16 Merrill K. Riddick began traveling throughout the Northwest and became interested in the emerging field of aviation. He was sent to Europe during World War I to serve as an instructor and to fly reconnaissance.

After the war, Riddick was among the first airmail pilots.

Riddick and Charles A. Lindbergh barnstormed together and flew in the Harry Perkins Air Circus. They had three children.

They had three children,Mary Ruth, Keith, and Barbara. In 1928, Riddick was an instructor at the first aviation preparatory school in Rochester, New York, where he instructed future president Franklin Doctorate. Roosevelt.

Riddick re-joined the Air Force during World World War II and served as a technical instructor.

He was also a prospector who was involved in many different mining claims prior to and after the war

Riddick moved back to Montana after the war but continued traveling. After his wife"s death in 1949, Riddick became involved in politics. He was a resident of Granite County during his political campaigns, which were centered on natural resource management and campaign finance reform.

He wrote and published the Journal of Applied Human Ecology, which focused on his plans for resource development.

Riddick campaigned across the nation, traveling only by passenger business Riddick died on March 9, 1988 in Annapolis, Maryland.

Achievements

• He ran for Montana governor in 1968, United States. Congress in 1972, and was a presidential candidate in 1976, 1980, and 1984, but never won an election.

Membership

In 1917, Riddick was a member of the first graduating class from the Army Air Force Aeronautics School in San Diego, California.