Bruce Barrick became involved in politics at age 15 in Lubbock, Texas, where he founded the Teen Age Republicans (TARs). As a student at Southwestern University from 1967-1969, he re-initiated the Young Republicans club. According to Barrick, the Young Republicans were at the forefront of building the Republican Party in Texas. Barrick states “if you want control of the party, get youth and women’s clubs and use them as volunteers.” During this period there were battles among senior party officials to control Republican youth. Two separate groups were formed – the ”black hats” and the “white hats.” The “black hats” were members of a conservative group, Young Americans for Freedom. Barrick’s group, the “white hats,” were more progressive.

Barrick, who now considers himself a Democrat, has a public relations firm in Austin and does political consulting.