He’s the attorney with the bushy beard and the motto “In times of peril, call Rick Merrill.” He practices out of “the little blue house” at 3625 Colby Ave. in Everett.
Merrill, 57, and Dodi, his wife of 31 years, have two horses, four goats, a bunch of chickens, some dogs and barn cats.
He is sponsoring a $1,500 scholarship award for a high school senior or college student who submits the most creative photo with a description of how the picture captures their life’s dream. Deadline is May 1. He also has an award for educators. More at www.rickmerrillattorney.com.
What are you wearing?
I am wearing cowboy boots. I always wear them, even on the beach.
Why and when did you start the scholarship award?
We started the scholarship this year and will continue every year. When I was growing up, I witnessed children that had a very hard time. My wife and I decided that we would help where we could and this is one of the things we do to help young people.
How did you come up with the picture format?
The picture format came about in trying to make it a fun experience. So many scholarships require writing an essay, not so much fun.
Talk about the educator award.
The Educator of the Month $500 award is for a local educator. It came about in our desire to benefit the community.
If you could represent anyone, alive or in history, who would it be?
I think it would be “Shoeless Joe” Jackson. He was railroaded.
What’s your most memorable case?
My most memorable case is probably the best thing I have seen in court as well. I represented a man who was driving intoxicated and caused an accident where a father was killed. In the car with the father were his young children. The man was sentenced to prison and at the hearing the man apologized to the children. When the man was done talking, the young children who lost their father walked up and hugged the man. It was something I will never forget.
What’s the story behind your beard?
My beard really came about from laziness. I don’t like to shave. My wife likes it so it is staying.
How about the blue house?
The Little Blue House came about when I wanted to paint the house blue. I bought paint. It looked much lighter in the can. It is easy to find though.
Fill in the blank: People would be shocked to know …
That in high school I never intended to go to college. (I obviously was not too bright back then!)
What are three things in your refrigerator at home?
Goat milk, eggs and bacon.
What is your pet peeve?
People using foul language. I grew up in a small town and we were always polite, even at school. It is hard to go through the day without hearing vulgar language, it is too bad. I miss those days.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Ice cream. I eat a lot of ice cream.
What should I have asked you?
You should have ask me about the time my father shot himself in the chest with a bow and arrow. Or how many people were in my high school class (Answer: 17).
— Andrea Brown
Do you know someone we should get to know better? Send suggestions to abrown@heraldnet.com or call 425-339-3443.
Send the guy in the little blue house a shot of your dream for shot at $1,500 scholarship https://t.co/3Uq3S39KMA pic.twitter.com/AoyXutpih0
— Andrea Brown (@reporterbrown) February 9, 2016
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