Twelve Notable Ritchie Boys

Ralph Baer, inventor—Known as the father of the video game, Baer developed the first such game, Odyssey, for Magnavox. Later he partnered with a toy company to make electronic games, the most successful of which is Simon, a toy that challenges coordination and memory.

Gardner Botsford, editor and writer—Botsford began writing for The New Yorker before the war. After his military service, he returned to the magazine and eventually became a distinguished editor, a job he enjoyed for 40 years.

John Chafee, statesman—He entered public life, like many members of his family before him, holding offices both elected and appointed. He was governor of Rhode Island from 1962 to 1969, Secretary of the Navy under President Nixon, and a US senator from 1976 until his death in 1999.

Eugene Fodor, travel writer—A travel writer even before the war, he founded Fodor’s in 1949 and created Fodor Modern Guides, travel books that included history, cultural insights, and practical information for travelers.

John W. Kluge, media mogul and philanthropist—Founder and owner of Metromedia, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the Ice Capades, John Kluge was, at one time, the 2nd richest man in America. He shared his wealth, making large donations to United Cerebral Palsy, Columbia University, the restoration of Ellis Island, and the Library of Congress.

David Rockefeller, banker, business leader, philanthropist—Born into wealth, David Rockefeller began his illustrious career in banking after WWII. He was CEO of Chase National Bank, as well as chairman on its board of directors. He became a leader in world finance and public service, donating much in the areas of science, medicine, and education.

Eric Ross, manufacturer and philanthropist—Ross started a vinyl scrap business after WWII and soon began recycling the material. His company, Alpha Chemicals and Plastics Corp., became the leading supplier of specialty PVC compounds in the industry. In later years, he donated much of his fortune to various causes in the arts, education, medicine, and the Jewish community.

J.D. Salinger, writer—In his early career, Salinger was a writer for The New Yorker magazine. His landmark novel, The Catcher in the Rye, published in 1951, set a new course for literature and made him a role model for many young writers in post-WWII America.

Rudolph Schirmer, composer, music publisher, writer—Rudolph Schirmer left a rich legacy of creative works—poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and music. He is often credited with bringing classical music to America.

David Seymour, photographer—Seymour developed his passion for photography as a young man in the 1930s, achieving early recognition for his pictures of the Spanish Civil War. After WWII, he became the trusted portraitist of many film stars, including Sophia Loren and Ingrid Bergman and as a photographer for Life, Look, and Paris-Match.

Ernst Wynder M.D., medical researcher—Wynder was the first to study the risk factors of smoking tobacco. After the war, as a medical student, he began his work as a researcher, collecting case histories of lung cancer patients. His studies led to the definitive 1950 study linking lung cancer and smoking.

William Warfield, concert singer and actor—Warfield, one of the few black Ritchie Boys, traveled the world as a sought-after bass baritone concert singer and soloist. His rendition of “Ol’ Man River” in the 1951 movie, Showboat is iconic. He stared as Porgy in the European tour of Porgy and Bess and often appeared on television (Ed Sullivan Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour).

“Herman Lang, the man who inspired me to write Immigrant Soldier, earned 6 Emmys for his excellent camera work during a long career with CBS. As I came to know more about the Ritchie Boys, I realized that Herman’s success was only the tip of the iceberg.” – Kathryn Lang-Slattery.