Eugene Merland Ricks, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026, at his home. He was under the care of Brio Hospice.

Eugene was born July 7, 1943, to Eugene Felix Ricks and Minnie Clements Ricks in Idaho Falls. He grew up in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho Falls High School.

On January 2, 1970, he married Paula Ivie in Idaho Falls. Merland started Ricks Electric Motor Service in 1976 and continued to operate the business until 2022. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He coached YMCA youth basketball and soccer and was the Scout leader for Troop 127. He was a craftsman, gardener, mechanic, and painter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and woodcraft.

He was dedicated to getting the job, done right and wasn’t willing to cut corners (Merland’s way). He was a dedicated family man who ensured no family event went unrecorded.

Merland is survived by his wife, Paula Ricks of Idaho Falls; his daughter, Barbara (Rob)Trolson of Mountain Home; his sons: Terry (Roxanne) Ricks of Ririe, Larry (Manuela) White of Menan, Travis Ricks of Idaho Falls, Jared (Christie) Ricks of Idaho Falls, and Christopher (Melissa McConnell) Ricks of Idaho Falls; his brothers: Alfred (Vicki) High of Shelley, Carl (Irene) High of Idaho Falls; his sister, Gloria (Wayne) Gardner of Idaho Falls; 15 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Minnie High, his father, Eugene Ricks, and his brother Danny High.

No services will be held. Cremation is under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho State Board of Education unanimously voted Wednesday to appoint Dr. David W. Hahn as the eighth president of Boise State University, officially ending a prolonged national search for the university’s top leader.

Hahn’s appointment follows his selection as sole finalist on June 16 and the completion of the 10-business-day waiting period required under Idaho law before a final vote could be taken. His appointment is effective July 1.

He will begin transitioning into the role immediately, performing presidential duties remotely as he prepares to relocate to Idaho. Under the terms of his contract, Hahn is expected to be on campus no later than Aug. 10, ahead of the start of the fall semester.

“This vote reflects the confidence of the full Board in the process we undertook and in the leader we have selected,” Idaho State Board of Education President Kurt Liebich said. “Today’s vote is the culmination of a rigorous process, and I have every confidence that Boise State and the state of Idaho are well served by this appointment. Dr. Hahn is the right person to lead Boise State into its next chapter.”

Hahn most recently served as dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona. He will succeed interim president Jeremiah Shinn, who led Boise State after former President Marlene Tromp departed in 2025 to take the presidency at the University of Vermont.

The search for Boise State’s next president has been closely watched across Idaho and within higher education circles, stretching more than a year and drawing attention for its shifting timeline and changes in state law governing how public university presidents are selected.

RELATED | Boise State announces restructuring that includes a merger and one college closure

Initially launched as a national search, the process was paused in 2025 as the Idaho State Board of Education reviewed search procedures and lawmakers debated revisions to Idaho’s presidential search law. During that period, no finalists were publicly announced, and the university continued operating under interim leadership.

The Idaho Legislature later approved changes to the process that significantly limited public disclosure of candidates, requiring only a single finalist to be named before a final appointment vote. Supporters of the change said it would help attract stronger candidates by protecting confidentiality during recruitment. Critics argued it reduced transparency for leadership decisions at Idaho’s public universities.

Following the adoption of the new rules, the search resumed in 2026. According to the State Board, dozens of candidates applied for the position, and semifinal interviews were conducted before Hahn emerged as the final selection.

Boise State has continued to navigate major institutional priorities during the leadership transition, including its move into the Pac-12 conference, ongoing research expansion, and campus development projects.

With Wednesday’s vote, the State Board said the search process has concluded and leadership stability has been restored at one of Idaho’s largest public universities.

Hahn will now assume responsibility for guiding Boise State into its next academic and athletic chapter, overseeing academic programs, university operations, fundraising, and strategic planning as he prepares to formally take the helm on campus in August.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.