Thursday, June 01, 2000
One-man whirlwind of charity
By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Gary Bricking doesn't volunteer with every big community and civic group in Northern Kentucky. It only seems that way.
Today, Mr. Bricking, 57, a Northern Kentucky native and lifelong resident, will officially retire as Northern Kentucky manager of Cinergy/Union Light Heat & Power.
But Mr. Bricking likely won't retire from his extracurricular activities — his volunteer work and leadership of various nonprofit organizations. Colleagues say Mr. Bricking has built an impressive and unselfish resume of community and philanthropic service during his 33 years with the power company.
His service runs deep through the fabric of Northern Kentucky, from working with the power brokers at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to helping the less powerful clients of United Way or Newport's Brighton Center.
“Gary Bricking is one of the most deeply respected community leaders that I have ever worked with. He's really made a difference in his community,” said Jim Willis, Cinergy's vice president of Field Customer Services.
Last year Mr. Bricking received the chamber's highest award, the Walter R. Dunlevy Frontiersman Award, which annually goes to an outstanding community servant in Northern Kentucky.
“Everything that Gary Bricking does and says is done with genuine concern for the good of others, and that comes across very clearly,” added the Rev. William Cleves, president of Thomas More College,
For instance, Mr. Bricking has been on the board of United Way & Community Chest since 1983, chairing the board from 1986 to 1988. He said he considers his United Way efforts among his most rewarding.
“I think the United Way is just so special, because it touches so many lives and does such a broad scope of work in the community,” he said.
Mr. Bricking also has shown a talent for navigating choppy political waters as leader of the Northern Kentucky Consensus Committee over the last 18 months. The group's nearly 70 members — business, community and political leaders — decide which area projects to seek state funding for.
The consensus committee
was able to secure funding for some major projects during the legislative session that ended in April.
This year, the group was able to take home $4 million to develop the L&N Bridge between Newport and Cincinnati into a pedestrian walkway and $700,000 to rent space for a regional worker training center.
“Gary came through big,” said House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan, D-Wilder. “It's not always easy to please the members of the consensus committee, but Gary did about as good a job as you can do keeping most people happy.”
Mr. Bricking spent most of his adult life at what is now Cinergy; 21 of his 33 years there he headed the Northern Kentucky operation. He said he will stay on for several weeks beyond his retirement date to help with the transition of his yet-to-be-named replacement.
Afterward, Mr. Bricking said, he will probably take another job. And he definitely plans to continue his community service.
“I enjoy it so much that I don't want to get away from it, ever,” he said.
High-end developments soar
Drug use by teens down in Tristate
Officials aim to beat heat deaths
New job, old name for former Mrs. Luken
Greg Thiel saw life perfectly
City examines its Web picture
Two held in bank holdup
Horse show looks ahead
One-man whirlwind of charity
Opinions on area codes get airing
Perseverance reaps pride as grandmother graduates
Pig parade: There's No Place Like Ham
Police union defends chief in dispute over racial slur
Stabbed priest sees auxiliary bishop
Theologian says freedom at risk
Angels watch over town
Board OKs deal for nonteachers
Fidelity growth includes 450 jobs
Fire, explosion at plant injures 10 firefighters
Germans get a full tour
'It doesn't mean a death sentence'
Retrial under way in murder case
Sierra Club takes to airwaves with attack on Bush
Central Avenue to close for ramp work
Committee pares list for Ohio coin design
CSO clarinetist wins prestigious Avery Fisher grant
Landfill proposal rejected
Touring actor home for summer in 'Threepenny Opera'
GET TO IT
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Tristate digest
