Old Ed

When I head into work on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, I know that I will be greeted with a big hello and hug from one of my favorite coworkers: Old Ed.

Edward Barricklow, who turned 85 on Nov. 17, has worked at Old Navy in Lubbock since it first opened more than 10 years ago. Barricklow works in the fitting room two afternoons a week, greeting customers with a smile.

One may wonder why Barricklow still works, even though he doesn’t have to. Barricklow reminds his co-workers often that he likes to work because it keeps him young. With an interesting, fast-paced life, it is no wonder Barricklow is still going strong.

Barricklow said he was born in the small town of Courtland, Kan.

“There were about 300 people, counting the cats and dogs,” Barricklow said.

Barricklow started college at Fort Hayes State University in Hays, Kan., where he said he paid only $52 for a 14 hour semester.

“You can’t even buy a book for that,” Barricklow said with a laugh.

He then transferred to Kansas Wesleyan University, where he earned degrees in physical education and water and recreation.

Barricklow said he then was in the United States Navy from 1950 through 1954. He said he primarily worked in underwater demolition, and spent some time aboard the USS Walke DD-723, a destroyer ship.

“I was aboard that one time, we were going from one place to another, they said we hit a mine,” Barricklow said. “But, we think we were torpedoed, and it killed 26 people. But, we’ll never know.”

After his time in the military, Barricklow decided he would like to see more of the world. Barricklow said he started his many foreign adventures in Seville, Spain, where he spent three years as the recreation director for a United States Air Force base.

Barricklow held similar positions all over the world, including Guam and Germany, with various military services. Living in such exotic locations, of course Barricklow has some great stories.

Kayla Tisue, a senior English major from Littleton, Colo., works in the fitting room with Barricklow at Old Navy. She told us one of her favorite stories Barricklow told her.

“Probably the most interesting of Ed’s stories has been the one about him scuba diving in Guam,” Tisue said. “Going under on the outside of the island and coming up in the middle.”

Barricklow also mentioned this story in his interview, saying it was one of the neatest experiences of his life.

Barricklow said he had a great traveling companion along the way: his wife, Betty.

Barricklow met his future wife while she was a waitress. After he had heard she was getting a divorce, Barricklow had a friend set them up on a blind date. Barricklow was still married at the time, but said that cannot stop true love.

“I got divorced from my first wife at 1 p.m. one day and married Betty at 6 p.m.,” Barricklow said with a chuckle and glow in his eye.

Betty and Ed have been together ever since. Barricklow said they moved to Lubbock after retiring because some of Betty’s family lived here. They work out together every day to stay healthy and young. They have four children between the two of them, 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Barricklow joked that his goal has always been to make it to the age of 85.

“I made it this far, so I think I’m doing pretty good,” Barricklow said.

Tisue said that she admires Barricklow and his work ethic and that she would like to have a life like his one day.

“I’d like to have life experiences of living around the world, and I would like to have a relationship with the community,” Tisue said.

“Ed is loved and appreciated by the people who come in contact with him within the walls of Old Navy. Who wouldn’t want that?”