Richard Riordan

Board Member, Riordan Foundation

A well-established and highly respected attorney, entrepreneur, and philanthropist before entering public service, Richard Riordan was elected mayor of Los Angeles in 1993 and re-elected by an overwhelming margin four years later, with more than 60 percent of the voters supporting his efforts to improve public safety, create quality jobs, and reform L.A.’s public schools. Riordan created his charitable foundation with one goal: teaching children how to read and write. Through its signature Rx for Reading program, the foundation has distributed some 25,520 computers to 2,140 schools in 40 states and enabled the purchase of more than 172,000 books for elementary classroom libraries.

Enjoy most: I enjoy helping others and sharing my knowledge with the next generation of leaders.

Toughest challenge: Helping the city of L.A. recover from the Northridge Earthquake.

Proudest moment: Creating the Riordan Foundation and helping support great schools.

Most excited: The next generation of Los Angeles leaders!

Best advice: Learn from everybody you meet, whether it is the president of the company or a janitor.

Beverage: Coffee or Diet Coke.

Car you drive: I prefer bikes.

Alma maters: BA, Princeton University; Law degree, University of Michigan Law School.

Fun fact: I am recently married – at 87 years old – to Elizabeth Gregory.

Bucket list: To play classical piano.