{{Short description|American businessman (1931–2025)}} 200px|thumb|Ritchie in 1969 '''Daniel L. Ritchie''' (September 19, 1931 – January 30, 2025) was an American businessman who served as the Chancellor of the University of Denver and as a CEO of major communication corporations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Remembering Daniel L. Ritchie |url=https://stories.du.edu/magazine/forever-crimson-gold/in-memoriam/remembering-daniel-l-ritchie/index.html |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=stories.du.edu |language=en}}</ref>
==Background== Ritchie was born on September 19, 1931, in China Grove.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YW5_CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT94hl |title=Daniel L. Ritchie Biography |isbn=9781614238287 |last1=Fisher |first1=Steve |date=April 2012 |publisher=Arcadia}}</ref> He attended Harvard University where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.<ref name="DU">{{Cite web |date=2005-12-01 |title=Dan Ritchie Unscripted |url=https://magazine-archive.du.edu/current-issue/dan-ritchie-unscripted/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=University of Denver Magazine - Archive |language=en-US}}</ref> After graduating from Harvard, he briefly served in the Army and worked as a securities analyst in New York.<ref name="DU" />
Ritchie died on January 30, 2025, at the age of 93.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-31 |title=Daniel L. Ritchie, renowned Denver civic leader, arts booster and pillar of DU, dies at 93 |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2025/01/31/daniel-ritchie-obituary-university-denver-dcpa-westinghouse/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career== ===Early career=== Ritchie moved to Colorado to manage Columbia Savings and Loan in the 1960s.<ref name="DU" /> After his time with Columbia Savings and Loan, Ritchie relocated to Hollywood, where he became executive vice president of MCA Inc. He lived in Hollywood but later left the industry, stating dissatisfaction with certain business practices.<ref name="DU" />
===Westinghouse=== Following his years in Hollywood, Ritchie became an entrepreneur in the organic foods industry and later served as CEO of Westinghouse Broadcasting for eight years.<ref name="DF" /> During Ritchie's tenure, Westinghouse Broadcasting broadcast a national report on the emerging AIDS crisis. According to Ritchie in a 2005 article, an affiliate station in San Francisco presented him with a report about a new disease that was alarming the medical community. He believed the story merited national attention due to its potential impact on public health.<ref name="DU" /> Ritchie and his team chose to preempt the corporation's prime-time lineup in favor of a report on the virus, a decision he felt might not align with the priorities of broadcasting leadership at the time.<ref name="DU" />
After many years as the head of Westinghouse, Ritchie retired at age 55 to the Grand River Ranch near Kremmling, Colorado, where he intended to raise cattle and enjoy his ranch.<ref name="DU" /> He returned to Colorado after nearly 30 years in executive positions with MCA, Inc. and Westinghouse.<ref name="LP">{{Cite web|url=https://www.du.edu/news/du-field-notes-stories-behind-dus-buildings|title=DU Field Notes: The Stories Behind DU's Buildings|date=September 14, 2020|website=University of Denver}}</ref>
===University of Denver=== Ritchie became involved when the University of Denver faced financial strain due to a local economic downturn in the 1980s.<ref>Cuff, Daniel.(1987, March 11.) Westinghouse Picks Broadcasting Chief. ''The New York Times'' D2.</ref> In an interview, Ritchie recalled borrowing money to cover payroll, emphasizing the uncertain financial situation of the university at the time.<ref name="DU" /> He served as vice chairman of the board and chaired the development committee before becoming Chancellor.<ref name="LP" />
===Chancellor=== 250px|thumb|Daniel Ritchie, center, at National Park System Advisory Board meeting. Daniel L. Ritchie was appointed the 16th chancellor of the University of Denver, succeeding Dwight Morrell Smith (January 1984 – July 1989). He was nicknamed the first "cowboy chancellor."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tourismhalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/inductees/bio.aspx?hofer=30|title=tourismhalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/inductees/bio.aspx?hofer=30<!--Insert title-->|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728120108/http://tourismhalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/inductees/bio.aspx?hofer=30|archivedate=2011-07-28}}</ref> During his tenure, the University emphasized the teaching of ethics, and Ritchie collaborated with Bill Daniels to incorporate ethics, values, and social responsibility into the business school curriculum.<ref name="DF" /> Shortly after becoming Chancellor, Ritchie appointed a task force to review international activities at the University. Based on that report, the University expanded and restructured its international programs. Study Abroad and International Human Rights Advocacy were given prominence in the University's strategic plan.<ref>Internal documentation, University of Denver.</ref> The Cherrington Global Scholars initiative expanded study abroad opportunities for students, and the International Human Rights Advocacy Center was established.<ref name="BP" /> He served as Chancellor without pay and donated a substantial portion of his Grand River Ranch to the University, which has provided over $50 million in funding for University projects.<ref name="BP" />
In June 1994, Ritchie announced a personal gift of $15 million to the University, to be realized through the sale of some of his ranch.<ref name="DF" /> In 2001, the University of Denver completed a fundraising campaign that exceeded its $200 million goal by nearly $74 million. During Ritchie's tenure, the university initiated a large-scale construction and renovation program.<ref name="BP" /> In 2005, the DU opened the new Center for Travel & Tourism.
Ritchie supported initiatives to enhance DU's cultural and event-hosting facilities and played a role in securing the Frozen Four tournament for Denver in 2008.<ref name="CD">Chancellor Daniel L. Ritchie.(University of Denver) Denver Journal of International Law and Policy. December 22, 2001. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3262/is_1_30/ai_n28890485/ "Chancellor Daniel L. Ritchie"]</ref> He served as the Chancellor for 15 years from 1989 to 2005.<ref name="DF" /><ref name="LP" />
In 2000, the University completed the Daniel L. Ritchie Center, which<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daniels.du.edu/about/history/|title=History of the Daniels College of Business|website=Daniels College of Business}}</ref> houses the 17 Division 1 University of Denver varsity sports programs and the Coors Fitness Center.
The Ritchie Center includes: * A {{convert|14500|sqft|m2|adj=on}} work out area * A squash court and two racquetball courts * Seven personal training studios * Six outdoor lighted tennis courts * A two-story climbing wall * An Olympic-size pool
===Chairman of the Board: University of Denver=== After serving as the Chancellor of the University for 15 years, Ritchie stepped down. He continued to be involved in the University by becoming chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2009.
===Denver Center for the Performing Arts=== Ritchie had an interest in the performing arts and supported the building of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Denver's campus. He increased his involvement with the Denver Center for Performing Arts in January 2007,<ref name="DF">{{cite web|url=http://www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp|title=www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp<!--Insert title-->|access-date=2010-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119180339/http://www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp|archive-date=2010-01-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> becoming chairman and CEO, succeeding Donald R. Seawell, who founded The Denver Center in 1972.<ref name="DF" /><ref name="BB" />
===Boards and organizations=== In addition to serving as The Denver Center's chairman, Ritchie was president of the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, which focuses on early childhood education and development.<ref name="LP" /><ref name="BB" /> He served on the Boards of the Daniels Fund, which supports programs that encourage personal responsibility and achievement by funding college scholarships and community programs,<ref name="LP" /> and the Denver Art Museum Foundation. He also served on the Executive Committee of Colorado Concern and was Chairman Emeritus and Honorary Member of the Board of the Central City Opera House Association.<ref name="BB" /> He was President of the Independent Higher Education of Colorado Fund.<ref name="BP">{{cite web|url=http://www.denvercenter.org/BioProfiles/DanielLRitchie.aspx.aim.com/|title=www.denvercenter.org/BioProfiles/DanielLRitchie.aspx.aim.com/<!--Insert title-->|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092104/http://www.denvercenter.org/BioProfiles/DanielLRitchie.aspx.aim.com/|archive-date=2015-05-18|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-03-02}}</ref> Ritchie also served as chair of the Education Committee of the National Park System Advisory Board.<ref name="LP" /> In 2010, Governor Bill Ritter appointed Daniel L. Ritchie as the new chairman of Colorado Concern.
==Awards== {{refimprove|section|reason=More sources needed and some awards herein may not be notable|date=January 2025}} * Citizen of the West Award (1998) * National Samaritan Institute Award * Gold Medal Award of the Poor Richard Club<ref name="LP" /> * Outstanding Philanthropist at National Philanthropy Day * National Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee * Community Cultural Enrichment Award from the Mizel Museum of Judaica * Ethical Leadership Award from the University of Denver * Laureate Member of the Colorado Business Hall of Fame<ref name="BB">{{cite web|url=http://www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp|title=www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp<!--Insert title-->|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119180339/http://www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp|archive-date=2010-01-19|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-03-02}}</ref> * Honorary Professor at Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India (2000) * Tourism Hall of Fame Inductee (2005)<ref name="CD" /> * Ethical Leadership Award from the University of Denver<ref name="LP" />
==See also== * University of Denver * Robert Coombe * Colorado * Denver Boone * Daniels College of Business * Sturm College of Law * Josef Korbel School of International Studies * Denver Center for the Performing Arts * Magness Arena
==Notes== {{reflist|1}}
==References== {{cleanup|section|reason=Improper formatting and bare URLs|date=January 2025}} <!-- References are the same thing as "sources". Suitable references include, but are not limited to: books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and websites. References that are written by experts and are reviewed before publication, by an editor, are preferred. --> <!-- Note: Your article must be submitted with at least two "suitable references" to be accepted. --> * University of Denver Magazine Winter 2005. "Dan Ritchie Unscripted" Tamara Chapman. November 1, 2005. https://magazine-archive.du.edu/current-issue/dan-ritchie-unscripted/ * University of Denver Magazine Winter 2006. "Ritchie Center Amenities are a Magnet for Students" Doug McPherson. December 6, 2006. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070523010954/http://www.du.edu/today/stories/2006/12/2006-12-06-ritchie.html] * {{Cite web | title=Daniels Fund :: Daniel Ritchie | url=http://www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119180339/http://www.danielsfund.org/About/Board%20Bios/Daniel_Ritchie.asp | archive-date=2010-01-19 | access-date=2025-02-23}} * {{Cite web | title=Denver Theatre {{!}} DCPA 404}} * Chancellor Daniel L. Ritchie.(University of Denver) Denver Journal of International Law and Policy. December 22, 2001. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3262/is_1_30/ai_n28890485/ * {{Cite web | title=Daniel L. Ritchie — Denver & Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame Inductee {{!}} VISIT DENVER | url=http://tourismhalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/inductees/bio.aspx?hofer=30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728120108/http://tourismhalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/inductees/bio.aspx?hofer=30 | archive-date=2011-07-28 | access-date=2025-02-23}} * {{Cite web | title=DU Field Notes: The Stories Behind DU's Buildings {{!}} University of Denver | url=http://www.du.edu/builtforlearning/profiles/daniel-ritchie.html | access-date=2025-02-23 | website=www.du.edu| date=14 September 2020 }} * "DU chancellor shares wealth School gift worth $15 million" Paul Hutchinson. Denver Post. June 9, 1994 * "DU reaping benefits of 10-year plan university in forefront of ethics, technological learning, says chancellor." Published on October 24, 1999. Rocky Mountain News. Bill Scanlon. * "DU chancellor backs teams and technology convocation audience told that universities must adapt to times." Published on October 8, 1998. Rocky Mountain News. Bill Scanlon. * "Chancellor to give 18,000 acres to DU." Published on April 16, 1998. Carla Crowder . Rocky Mountain News. * https://web.archive.org/web/20100312170759/http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovRitter/GOVR/1251566551060 * {{Cite web | title=Harvard University | url=http://www.harvard.edu | access-date=2025-02-23 | website=www.harvard.edu}} * {{Cite web | title=History of the Daniels College of Business | url=http://www.daniels.du.edu/aboutus/history/index.html | access-date=2025-02-23 | website=www.daniels.du.edu}}
{{University of Denver chancellors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritchie, Daniel L.}} Category:1931 births Category:2025 deaths Category:American businesspeople in the entertainment industry Category:Harvard Business School alumni Category:Chancellors of the University of Denver Category:United States Army soldiers