His reputation as the doctor who didn't mind company in the birthing room spread, and he had labor and delivery business from throughout the county, particularly Arcata. Not only would he allow husbands to participate in deliveries, many of which were performed in homes, he encouraged the whole family to be there. There's a lot of learning that goes on. That's what I call family medicine. With the social changes beginning in the '60s, obstetricians became more open to family participation.
Hospitals even have delivery suites to accommodate the family.
The Ricklefs have no children, but any errand to the post office or weekend gathering can be an occasion for the doctor to come face to face with someone he brought into the world. I have to ask. I don't even know all my own grandnieces and grandnephews. I've got about 90 or 100 of them. I delivered a lot of them and delivered a lot of their mothers and fathers.