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Victor Frank Ridder (April 4, 1886 – June 14, 1963) was a newspaper publisher and civic leader in New York City for many decades in the early 20th century.
Career
Victor and his brothers Bernard H. Ridder and Joseph E. Ridder were the owners and publishers of the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung, the premier daily newspaper of German-speaking residents of the New York City area, which they had inherited from their father Herman Ridder.
His company, founded by his father, Ridder Publications, Inc., later merged with Knight Newspapers, Inc. in 1974, and operated under the name Knight Ridder until 2006, when the company was purchased by The McClatchy Company.
Philanthropy and volunteering
Victor Ridder was active in the Boy Scouts of America as a volunteer leader in New York City for many years. In 1912, he helped organize New York's first Catholic parish troop, and within a couple of years became a National BSA volunteer with responsibility for promoting Catholic Scouting. He was a co-founder in 1922 of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, and was later recognized by the National Council BSA for his distinguished service to youth with the Silver Buffalo Award.
He served as president of the New York State Board of Social Welfare from 1929 to 1939, and as New York City administrator of the Works Progress Administration from October 1935 until his resignation in July 1936 (effective August 1.).
Personal life
Ridder was twice married. His first wife was Marie Thompson (1885-1935). Before her death in 1935, they were the parents of:
- Mary Hartmann Ridder (1912-1960)
- Gretchen Ridder Nicholas (1915-2019)
- Walter Thompson Ridder (1917-1990)
- Robert Ridder (1919-2000)
- Esther Margaret Ridder (1925-2014)
- Joan Ridder Challinor (1927-2018)
After the death of his first wife, he married Ruth O'Day (1886-1969).
Ridder died on June 14, 1963.
References
- ^ Ross (1963-06-15). "Victor F. Ridder, 77, Is Dead; Publisher and Scouting Leader; Ex-Owner of Staats-Zeitung Controlled Six Papers-- Began Catholic Groups Joined Zeitung in '05 Began Catholic Groups In Dispute on Reds (Published 1963)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "Family Files Page 817". Genealogical Society of Bergen County. January 2017. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- "The Catholic Transcript 14 March 1935 — Catholic Research Resources Alliance". thecatholicnewsarchive.org. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- "V.F. Ridder heads welfare board". New York Times. June 19, 1929. p. 30.
- "Welfare board meets: Regret at resignation of V.F. Ridder is recorded". New York Times. May 17, 1939. p. 24.
- "Victor Ridder gets Gen. Johnson's post as WPA head here". New York Times. September 26, 1935. p. 1.
- "Roosevelt praises Ridder's WPA Work: Accepts His Resignation With Regret, Saying Achievements Speak for Themselves". New York Times. July 15, 1921. p. 21.
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