Richard H. Riddell
1916-2000
Seattle attorney Richard H. Riddell died on May 29, 2000 at the age of 83. He was born in Seattle, Washington in 1916, graduated from Queen Anne High School at age 15, and then worked for two years as an office boy at the WR Grace Steamship Co. before entering Stanford University where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1938. He earned his law degree in 1941 at Harvard Law School where he served on the Board of Editors of the Harvard Law Review.
After graduating from Harvard, Dick returned to Seattle and was admitted to the Washington State bar in 1941. Shortly thereafter he joined his father’s law practice which led to the formation of the law firm now known as Riddell Williams P.S. Dick had just put out his shingle when the war effort called him and he joined the USAAF. He served with the 8th Air Force from 1941-1945, achieving the rank of Major.
Dick was very active in Bar Association affairs, including service as President of the Seattle-King County Bar Association from 1963-1964, serving on the Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association from 1973 to 1976 and President of the State Bar from 1976 to 1977. Dick had the honor of being a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the American Bar Association.
Dick also served on the Board of Directors for KING Broadcasting Company from 1947-1992. He was Chairman of the Seattle Transit Commission in 1971, and a member of the Rainier Club, College Club, the Seattle Tennis Club and the Broadmoor Golf Club.
Dick loved his family, his law practice and a good game of cards. He was a doer, a goer, a giver, a visionary and a leader. In everything he did he relished in doing his best, and his joy in living each day was evident to all those around him.
Practice Areas
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