Rick Davis, founder of the Institute of Totally Useless Skills, was a Ringling Brothers Circus clown who performed at Disney World, on Broadway, on HBO, and at fine laundromats everywhere. He traveled nationwide as a corporate comic and held degrees in philosophy (his first useless skill) and psychology. He and his wife Jackie founded CircusLearning LLC, a southern New Hampshire organization offering youth-centered circus arts through its programs, Silver Lining Circus Camp and Flying Gravity Circus. He also helped found the American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO) which is dedicated to teaching circus arts to young people.Teaching circus arts to youth was Rick's cause and passion. He appeared in numerous operas (notably Gilbert and Sullivan) with Raylynmor Opera. Rick taught an abundance of fun tricks and stunts that were the subjects of two books, Totally Useless Skills and Totally Useless Office Skills. Rick passed away at his home in Temple, NH on September 7, 2015.