Richard J. Ferris
Richard J. Ferris | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 31, 1936 |
| Died | January 16, 2022 (aged 85) Orlando, Florida, US |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
| Occupation(s) | Business executive; CEO of United Airlines Limited; Co-chairman of Pebble Beach Golf Links |
Richard Jesse Ferris (August 31, 1936 – January 16, 2022) was an American business executive who served as the CEO of
Early life
Ferris was born in
Career
Ferris started his career with Western International Hotels, which later became Westin Hotels & Resorts. He spent his time managing a number of the company's properties across the country.[1] During this time, he also served as the general manager of the Continental Plaza Hotel in Chicago.[2]
He joined UAL Corporation, the parent holding company of United Airlines, after UAL's acquisition of Western International Hotels in 1970 and was made president of United's Food Services Division in 1971. He then became group vice president of marketing in 1974. He would go on to become CEO of United in 1976 at the age of 39 and chairman of the board in 1978. Ferris was named CEO of Allegis Corporation in 1979 and chairman and president in 1982.[2] He followed his mentor, Edward Carlson, who himself had been Western Hotels' CEO.[1]
During his time as the CEO at UAL Corporation, he was a proponent of airline deregulation, which began in the United States with the passing of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. He also led acquisitions by purchasing the Pacific routes of Pan American Airways. He was also at the helm of the company during the airline pilots' strike of 1985. The strike itself was prompted by UAL's demand for a two-tier wage structure, in which newly hired pilots would earn less than current employees. UAL won its demand for a two-tier system after a 29-day strike that ended in June 1985.[1][3][4]
He organized the company into a travel conglomerate and renamed it
During this time, he was noted to have worked on an 'unusual' financing deal with
The conglomerate did not result in the intended
Ferris stayed connected with the travel industry, partnering with American businessman and former MLB commissioner Peter Ueberroth to acquire Guest Quarters Hotels while partnering with the American multinational conglomerate General Electric. The company would go on to merge with DoubleTree hotels in December 1993,[6] and later with the Promus Hotel Corporation. Ferris quit the combined company in 1997.[5]
Ferris partnered with Ueberroth, actor
Personal life
Ferris was married to Kelsey Ferris. The couple had three children.
Ferris died from ALS in Orlando, Florida, on January 16, 2022, at the age of 85.[7][1]
References
- ^ from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Herrera, James (January 18, 2022). "Former Pebble Beach Co-Chairman Richard Ferris dies at 85". Monterey Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Leff, Gary (April 12, 2020). "The 1985 United Airlines Pilots Strike Still Brings Out Bitterness". View from the Wing. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Company News: DoubleTree and Guest Quarters Hotels Merge". The New York Times. December 17, 1993. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Shedloski, Dave (January 17, 2022). "Dick Ferris, co-owner of Pebble Beach and former PGA Tour Policy Board chair, dies at 85". Golf Digest. Retrieved November 17, 2022.