Biography

Born in Pasadena, raised in Lancaster. CA, Rick went to Catholic school with a younger, sister and brother. Parents owned a nursery and he grew up working there watering the plants. He has 2 grown children and 2 grand children all living in Palmdale.

Attended Antelope Valley High, played varsity football, before attending Cal Poly Pomona where he continued his plant education with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture. Played a little semi pro football as well.

Rick taught school for 37 years, recently retiring from hale Middle School after 25 years where he taught 7th and 8th grade Floristry, Horticulture, Landscaping Classes. These included concepts of floral design, tool ID, retail vs wholesale, proper irrigation and design cost estimating. He spent time at Marina Del Ray Jr. High, Venice High where as soccer coach he also took the team to City championship. He spent 5 years at Camarillo High, beginning their girls soccer program. Rick also taught at Antelope Valley College for a few years, where he met wife Evie who many year later would become his wife. Rick is a licensed landscape contractor under the name Accent landscape.

Other activities include administering an agricultural scholarship in memorial of his father at Antelope Valley College, Ambassador with Ag In The Classroom program to demonstrate for other teachers how to incorporate ag into their teaching programs, and judge at the Ventura County Fair Horticulture Exhibit. I have worked with numerous community volunteer projects, and serve as an unofficial advisor to our local Botanic Garden. He is a 37 year member of the Elks Lodge where he has been scholarship chairman for many times. Rick worked with TO Kiwanis over the years but only joined upon retirement.

He has been involved with CVD through both organizations. He is the reining Mr. Whiskeroo, ... hence the name Whiskeroo Rick. He has won best beard, best mustache and softest beard many times and has the winning ribbons and belt buckles to prove it. After the contest he generally shaves it all off for the remainder of the year, only to let it grow back at the beginning the new year.

For recreation, began playing handball in college and never stopped and has won numerous tournaments both single and double. Rick is active in both the So Cal Handball Assoc and the United State Handball Assoc., and plays in 8 to 10 tournaments a year still.

On a personal level, he has been married to Evie for 17 years. She also has 2 grown children. She has been a member of both Zonta and Soroptimists of the Conejo, both organizations focusing on improving the lives of women around the world. She also volunteers making beautiful gift baskets for Community Conscience, Senior Concerns and Hospice of the Conejo and numerous others. They are both active in Red Line Corvettes, enjoy traveling and entertaining at home. Their backyard we featured in the local newspaper and also in a garden club home garden tour.

Charity

"Whiskeroo Rick" Herrera raised money for the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks and Hospice of the Conejo.

Campaign Manager

Mike Mathews