Silverton, Oregon, USA
Richard (Rick) Ernst was born and raised in Silverton, Oregon, graduating from high school in 1971. He majored in Music Education at the University of Oregon, leaving after one and a half years. He later attended Chemeketa Community College, earning his Associate degree in Business. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1975-1980 on the USS Enterprise, then returned to help run the family's iris business, Cooley's Gardens, Inc. After his father suffered a debilitating stroke in 1996, Rick assumed the position of president and general manager. He was active in hybridizing and introducing new irises since 1980. AIS registration records indicated he introduced 252 irises, his first in 1983, and all TBs except for 'Downsizing My Lines' (2008) a BB. His irises won 49 HMs, 7 AMs and one Wister Medal in 2007 for 'Ring Around Rosie' (2000). Rick Ernst maintained active membership in several iris societies. He was a founder of the Tall Bearded Iris Society. (excerpted from AIS Bulletin, Vol. 92, No. 3, July 2011)