Dr. William (Bill) Ridder

2019 Inductee

Dr. William (Bill) E. Ridder graduated from Northeastern High School in 1962. He was Vice President of his senior class, member of the Varsity Club, member of National Honor Society, member of Student Council; and sat for the National Merit Scholarship Test. Bill excelled in sports, primarily focusing on track and football:

  • Track

    • Meritorious Award (lettered) shot-put, three years

    • Set Clark County record in shot-put, senior year

  • Football

    • Meritorious Award (lettered), three years

    • MVP for Northeastern Jets, senior year

    • All Clark County Football, three years

    • Ohio High School All-State Team Honorable Mention, two years

    • National High School All American Football Team, senior year

After being considered by five conferences, Bill selected The Ohio State University in the Big Ten Conference for a 4-year football scholarship with coach Woody Hayes. In addition to playing first string and lettering for three years (in those days freshman couldn't play), Bill was recognized with:

  • All Big Ten team, senior year

  • Academic All American, senior year

  • North-South Shrine Game in Florida for senior athletes

  • OSU Conan Fergus Memorial Award - an outstanding senior athlete continuing in a professional career.

Following his OSU football participation, he was selected by coach Woody Hayes to be a student assistant coach while he continued his studies in Veterinary Medicine. In 1969, Bill graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (DVM). After college graduation, Bill served in the United States Army Veterinary Corp for 23 years. While in the military, Bill was chosen for continuing education and earned the following:

  • Grad of Army Command and General Staff College

  • M.S. in Public Health and Infectious Disease (Kansas State University)

  • Board Certification in Public Health

  • Grad of Army War College

  • PhD in Toxicology (Indiana University School of Medicine)

He was supported by his wife Teryl (a former teacher at Northeastern High School) and three children - Michelle (Portland, OR), Elizabeth (Granville, OH) and William Woodrow "Woody" (Los Angeles, CA). After his military career, he worked in lab Animal Medicine as a Veterinary Toxicologist for 16 years. Currently Col Ridder is retired and resides in Westerville, OH. He and Twyla enjoy hiking their children, five grandchildren, relatives and friends.

Bill attributes the development of his basic foundation of respect, teamwork and discipline to his parents/siblings and to Northeastern High School. He feels being Inducted into Northeastern High School's Hall of Fame is most honorable. Bill's encouragement to others is “whatever your experience, always leave it better than what it was,” and “have a contemplative attitude (positive/open/mindful) at all times.”