Ricketts was born on May 5, 1920 in Kokomo, Indiana. He entered the dental school by saving every cent he could gather. He obtained his dental degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1945.
He then joined the U.S. Navy as a dentist for two years and eventually went to the University of Illinois to study Orthodontics. He obtained his master's degree in 1950. He was a professor at many universities in the world, including Loma Linda University, University of Illinois at Chicago.
During his lifetime, he was member of 17 professional societies and gave over 100 lectures all over the world about orthodontics. In 1981, he founded the American Institute for Bioprogressive Education.
He received a Merit Award from the American Society of Dentistry for Children, the William Cogswell Distinguished Service Award in Oral Surgery, the Albert H. Ketcham Award from the American Board of Orthodontics, the John Mershon lecture honor, the Associated Journals of Europe Award, the Strang Award from the Connecticut State Society of Orthodontics, and a Waldron Lecturer Award from the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.He retired at the age of 72.
