His election was reported as the "largest majority ever polled" to the county's political offices even though Hicks only won by 9 votes more than the nearest of his four competitors.[5] He was 25 years old, Republican, and African American.[5] Hicks was a school principal when elected, one of two newly elected African American school principals that session, the other was George Henry White.[6]
In 1882 Hicks resigned his seat to take up a position of County Commissioner for Washington County. He died in January 1883.[6]