He Never Met a Stranger

Roy Ridge Cements His Philanthropic Legacy

As owner of the successful Allied Broadcast Company (later Allied Telecom), a global distributor of audiovisual equipment located in Richmond, Roy Ridge was a public figure in our community for many decades.

Though Ridge was known to be open-minded and kind to everyone he met, many were not aware of Ridge’s penchant for generosity and altruism, which he mostly performed in discrete fashion.

Ridge began his formal relationship with the Wayne County Foundation as he neared retirement age. While he may have been ‘quietly philanthropic’ during his life, his giving legacy was forever cemented in June 2021 when the Foundation received a gift of more than $5.1 million from his estate.

In addition to his gift being the largest the Foundation has ever received, it can also be used in a way that best benefits Wayne County. Unrestricted gifts can be directed by the Foundation to organizations, programs, or projects that address the community’s greatest needs.

For Ridge, Richmond was always home and close to his heart. He grew up in the city, attended Hibberd Intermediate School, was a graduate of Richmond High School’s class of 1955, and eventually embedded his successful business in the community.

‘He was always so proud of the history of Richmond. He was a lifelong learner and would tell anyone who would listen about his hometown,’ shared Wright.

‘He donated money to many organizations across the community, almost always anonymously,’ said Ian Wright, who became a longtime friend of Ridge after working several years for him after graduating from high school. ‘He put a lot of kids through college…sometimes they didn’t even know it was him.’ Ridge, who passed in 2019, was particularly fond of Cope Environmental Center, Richmond Civic Theatre, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Friends School, and higher education in general.

Yet another instance of a good deed performed in anonymity was when Ridge noticed the lights around the county courthouse and municipal building were beginning to burn out; he paid for brand new lights to be installed around both buildings.

Ridge’s love of ‘all things related to electronics and technology’ was fostered at a young age by his father Sam Ridge, who worked for the Phillips Records plant in Richmond. After high school, Roy worked at a local radio station and movie theater before he served in the United States Air Force from 1959-1961. He founded Allied Broadcasting Company in 1974, which he owned until his retirement.

‘Roy’s generous gift to the Wayne County Foundation will be felt in our community for decades to come,’ said Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Gilliam. ‘We are thankful for both his philanthropic spirit, as well as the compassion he showed his community.’

‘He was an amazing mentor…and an even better man,’ shared Wright.