Amidst a distinguished professional career Ritchey Hollenbaugh also made time for a career in community service. While at SHS Ritchey was a member of the Biology Club, student council for three years, senior class executive committee and was a Hi-Y officer for two years. He played football and baseball and ran track. He then earned a bachelor’s degree at Kent State University and a law degree at Capital University. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1973, a U.S. District Court Bar in 1974, a U.S. Court of Appeals Bar in 1976 and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in 1978. His work and dedication to the profession was recognized when he was elected president of the Columbus Bar Association (term 1987-88) and the Ohio State Bar Association (term 1992-93).
Ritchey began his career as an assistant city prosecutor. He then became a senior assistant city attorney, a special prosecutor for Athens County, a special prosecutor for Franklin County and a special counsel to the state’s attorney general. Simultaneously he was building a private practice. He then became a partner in one firm and currently is a partner with Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in Columbus. His practice areas include litigation (general, business, employment) and white collar criminal defense.
His many community involvements include the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation Board which since 2008 he has served as vice president. The foundation provides legal assistance to the poor in areas of safety, shelter and medical care. Frequent recipients of the foundation’s assistance include domestic violence victims, families forced into homelessness, children caught in custody battles and senior citizens whose medical benefits are mistakenly terminated. Ritchey also serves on the board of the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation which creates policy on a range of workforce issues, recommends certification of training program providers and oversees establishment of the JobSight office centers for workforce development.
Ritchey also has served with the Columbus Parks & Recreation Commission, Franklin Park Conservatory Architectural Advisory Board, Metropolitan Women’s Center Legal Panel, United Way, and Linworth United Methodist Church Board of Trustees. Currently he remains involved in alumni affairs for Capital University Law School and serves as a radio volunteer for Ohio State University’s “You and the Law.” Observes an alum, “Ritchey has a clear understanding of the importance of serving the community that helped him build a successful career.”
Ritchey’s wife is Becki. His children are Katie who has given Ritchey a grandson and Chad.
Ritchey’s Hall of Distinction nominator: Mike Johnson ’63. His induction ceremony presenter: Mike Johnson ’63.