When Rick Schmid transferred to Concordia University as a student, this was his second chance to be successful in college. When he was a freshman at Memphis State University, he didn’t go to class or study saying, “I didn’t care if I went to class, but my dad did.”
Schmid sought counsel from his local pastor, Gordon Gross. Pastor Gross suggested that he transfer to Concordia. After spending time at a local community college to bring up his GPA, in January 1972, Rick came to Concordia to play football and baseball.
It didn’t take long for him to meet Charlotte Reimnitz from Mitchell, South Dakota, and the two became inseparable. They’ve now been married 43 years.
The couple married prior to their senior year and after graduation they settled in Memphis where Rick had a job working with the Boy Scouts.
Working with students had a positive impact on Rick as did attending summer camp. So when he was approached in 1973 to help re-open an abandoned boy scout camp in Hardy, Arkansas, he jumped at the chance.
Camp Kia Kima has become a labor of love for Rick and he served on the board of directors for 12 years.
“We talk about the ‘Spirit of Old Kia Kima’ and that is simply the people who come and donate their time, talents, and realize the same things we realized when we were campers: Sometimes you can explain it and sometimes you just have to be there.”
Rick currently serves as vice president of sales for First Data Corp in Atlanta.
“I appreciate my time at Concordia because that is where I met my wife and that’s where my faith grew.”
The Schmid’s have three children and five grandchildren.
If you have a love story to share from your time as students at Concordia, please share on the alumni Facebook page, Concordia University, Nebraska Alumni.
