Caleb Rickenbacher life memorialized at Goforth Park with We Remember Memorial
HARRIS COUNTY, TX – At age 20, Caleb Rickenbacher’s life was cut short by the selfish acts of an individual driving a stolen vehicle at high-speed in a wrong-way, hit-and-run crash.
It was because of Caleb’s heroic last effort in swerving his car that saved his girlfriend’s life. For this, and his compassion for others, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s Office and Crime Stoppers of Houston gathered with Caleb’s family at Deputy Darren Goforth Park to dedicate a We Remember Memorial bench and tree in his honor.
"No parent should feel the pain of losing their child," said Commissioner Ramsey. "Caleb was Melissa and Gary's only child. Not only did this senseless act take his life, but it completely changed the course of this family's life. This is why we stand here today to dedicate this beautiful space overlooking the lake to Caleb. It's a place where people can learn about his life, support his family, and pledge to bring murderers to justice so they may never harm anyone else again."
Caleb was well known for helping others through hard times and had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. He enjoyed planning Disney trips with his mother and going on annual ski trips with his father.
He was an active member of his church, volunteered on mission trips, and once considered becoming a youth pastor. His faith led him to helping the homeless and with suicide prevention efforts. At the time of his passing, he was pursuing a dual degree in business and criminal justice with plans to one day work in the legal profession.
“By all accounts and everyone I have spoken to, Caleb was a remarkable young man with a bright future ahead of him,” said Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services & Advocacy Andy Kahan. “We can’t go back and change what happened to Caleb, but we can make things better for others to come along and providing a memorial bench will ensure a lasting legacy for Caleb and his family.”
Precinct 3’s Parks Department will keep Caleb’s We Remember Memorial in pristine condition overlooking the Goforth Park pond and nurture the tree so that it may grow for decades.
“It’s hard to put into words how deeply we cherish this honor. Every family longs for their child to be remembered, and knowing our incredible son, Caleb, will be remembered as long as this tree provides shade and this bench offers rest means everything to us. This space gives our family a place to reflect on Caleb’s life and legacy — a place to feel close to him. We are profoundly grateful to Crime Stoppers and Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey for recognizing our son in this meaningful way.”
Caleb’s murderer was taken into custody, thanks to the hard work of Constable Precinct 4 Mark Herman’s investigators, and charged with murder. The suspect was let out on a $65,000 bond, now lives out of state, and is still awaiting trial.
Crime Stoppers continues to work with many families on advocacy efforts to ensure justice is served. As a reminder, anyone with information on any unsolved homicides that occurred in the Greater Houston Area is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS. For more information about the We Remember Memorial Project, visit www.pct3.com/We-Remember-Memorial.
