Rick’s passion in life was researching gangster history; he was a world renowned author, researcher and historian on the subject. He was known by the gangster community as the “Godfather” of gangster history. He had appeared on the History Channel and on an A&E Biography program, speaking on gangster history. He wrote several books on the subject - including The Complete Public Enemy Almanac coauthored with his friend William Helmer. In July 2010, Rick announced that he and Thomas Hunt would partner in the operation of quarterly journal Informer: The History of American Crime and Law Enforcement.
Works:
Coauthor of The Complete Public Enemy Almanac; Public Enemies: America's Criminal Past, 1919-1940; The Public Enemies Handbook (in progress)
Contributor to: The Quotable Al Capone; Dillinger: The Untold Story; Thompson, The American Legend: The First Submachine Gun
Owner, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of On the Spot Journal
Author of numerous articles on historical crime
Consultant to various television and radio crime documentaries.
Dillinger: The Untold Story by G. Russell Girardin, William J. Helmer, Rick Mattix (Contributions by)
The Public Enemies Handbook: A Who's Who of America's Most Notorious Gangsters by William J. Helmer, Rick Mattix
The Complete Public Enemy Almanac: New Facts And Features on the People, Places, And Events of the Gangsters And Outlaw Era 1920-1940 by William J. Helmer, Rick Mattix
He will be remembered as a one of a kind person that never had a harsh word for anyone. He was an avid dog lover. He was a strong supporter of Indian rites and the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed listening to the Beatles and enjoyed a laid back life.
Funeral services will be held October 31 at the Bates Funeral Chapel, Oskaloosa, IA
Wow. And: Bummer.
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