Donald Husted Riddle

Background

Donald Husted Riddle was born on January 22, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He was a son of William Ewing and Ruth (Husted) Riddle. He had a sister.

Education

In 1949 Donald Husted Riddle received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, a Master of Arts degree in 1951 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1956.

Career

Donald Husted Riddle started his career as a professor of politics and government at various institutions. He joined John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1965 as dean of faculty, and became president three years later. Under his leadership, the school professionalized the training of police officers, who previously had been treated as though they need know little more than how to handcuff a prisoner, by introducing mandatory courses in psychology and sociology.

During his tenure at John Jay, Riddle also became something of a national hero when he twice stood up to the intimidation tactics of F.B.I. director J. Edgar Hoover. Riddle left John Jay to join the administration of the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he held a post as chancellor from 1976 through 1982. While at Chicago, he is credited with consolidating the role of the school with the surrounding city and with both setting higher admissions standards and increasing support for students in need in order to ensure that more students left the school with a degree in hand.

Riddle edited several books in his field of political science, including The Promise and Problems of American Democracy in 1964 with Jack Allen and Robert E. Cleary, American Society in Action: Readings for the Problems and Promise of American Democracy in 1965, and with Cleary Political Science in the Social Studies in 1966. He is also the author of The Truman Committee: A Study in Congressional Responsibility (1964).

Achievements

• Donald Husted Riddle is best remebered for his service at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He raised a good reputation of these educational institutions. His works received high praise from critics.

Works

More photos

• book

  • American Society in Action: Readings for the Problems and Promise of American Democracy 1965
  • Political Science in the Social Studies 1966
  • The Truman Committee: A Study in Congressional Responsibility 1964

Connections

On June 20, 1942 Donald Husted Riddle married Leah Gallagher. In 1996 she died. They had twins: Susan and Judith Lee Riddle.

Father:

William Ewing Riddle

Mother:

Ruth Husted Riddle

Spouse:

Leah Dunlap Gallagher

Daughter:

Susan Lee Riddle

Daughter:

Judith Lee Riddle

Sister:

Betty Carhart

References

• Contemporary Authors
  2000