Roy H. Ritter ’26

Roy H. Ritter was an honored and nationally recognized public works engineer in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a consulting engineer and partner in the firm of Whitman, Requardt and Associates in Baltimore.

A native of Winchester, Virginia, he graduated from Hanley High School. He received his bachelor of arts in economics and math from Roanoke in 1926, graduating with honors. During his student days, Mr. Ritter was on the city manager's staff in both Winchester and Salem. In 1930, he received his civil engineering degree from Cornell University, where he also held a teaching fellowship.

From 1930 to 1940, Mr. Ritter served in the National Guard as a first lieutenant in the field artillery. During World War II, he was engaged in the construction of various facilities for the U.S. Army.

He became associated with Whitman, Requardt and Associates in 1930 and was made a partner in 1944. He wrote water supply reports for the U.S. Naval Academy and his water supply system engineering projects included those of the the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area; Frederick and Wilmington, Maryland; Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia; and others. The D.C. project became a model throughout the country and was praised for its planning and intra-governmental cooperation.

In 1979, Mr. Ritter received the lifetime achievement award of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was known among colleagues as a brilliant engineer with a strong sense of personal and professional ethics.

He held memberships in several professional societies and was chair of the Chesapeake Section of the American Water Works Association. He was selected Water Utility Man of the Year by the AWWA in 1971 for his engineering achievements.

Active in civic affairs, Mr. Ritter served as president of the Towson Rotary Club and of the Virginians of Maryland, a social and fraternal organization. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Towson

He provided leadership and support for Roanoke for many years by serving as a class agent and received the Roanoke College Medal in 1973.

Roy H. Ritter received the Roanoke College Medal in 1973.