Rick Just is a native Idahoan who grew up on a ranch along the Blackfoot River. Just was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, and graduated from Firth High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Public Administration from Boise State University.Just served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 to 1971. For 30 years, he worked for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, retiring as chief planner.Just has published four young adult novels, The Wizards Trilogy, consisting of Wizard Girl (2007), Wizard Chase (2012), and Wizard's End (2012), followed by Ghost Writer (2019). He also wrote Anjel (2014).He has written or edited several books on Idaho history, including 100 Years: Idaho and Its Parks (Idaho Parks and Recreation, 2008); Idaho Snapshots (2012); Idaho's State Parks (Images of America Series, 2017); and Keeping Private Idaho (a novel, 2018).His most recent books are A Kid's Guide to Boise (2018), Fearless: The Story of Farris Lind, the Man Behind the Skunk (2019), and Symbols, Signs, and Songs, the first in the "Speaking of Idaho History" Series (2020).Rick Just was elected to the Idaho Senate (15th District) in November 2022, and assumed office on December 1, 2022.