William O Ritchie Jr

Biography of William O. Ritchie Jr.

William O. Ritchie Jr., aka Bill Ritchie, a 1971 graduate, holds the distinction of being the first known NCAA All American in the history of Howard University. The seven-time All American became Howard’s first known NCAA individual champion when he was victorious in the 220-yard dash during the 1969 College Division NCAA Track and Field Championships in Ashland, Ohio. Ritchie is one of the few athletes that have been inducted twice in the Howard Sports Hall of Fame, first in 1996 as an individual and again in 2018 as a member of the 1969 and 1969 Track and Field Teams. During the fall of 2024, he was selected as one of the greatest track and field athletes in the history of Howard University athletics. Bill is also an alumnus of the University of the District of Columbia and George Washington University. He is a 1966 graduate of Beckley Stratton High School.

Upon graduation, Ritchie joined the Metropolitan Police Department, retiring in 1994 as the Chief of Detectives and former Homicide Commander in the most powerful city in the world. During his tenure, he led or participated in many major criminal investigations including the attempt assassination of President Ronald Reagan during 1981, the Air Florida Airplane crash in 1982, and the Shotgun Stalker spree murder investigation during 1993. His other commander level assignments included the Public Integrity Branch, the Organized Crime Branch, and Director of the Medical Services Division. He was the only member of the department trained to conduct investigative hypnosis sessions on victims and witnesses of crimes.

Upon retirement, he moved on to other positions, including Director, Office of Decedent Affairs at the Washington Hospital Center, Project Manager for the District of Columbia Public School’s Security Force and Director of Operations for a nationally known security company that in part serviced contracts for the US Navy and the JFK Center for the Performing Arts. He retired again in 2006. From time to time, he is called upon by CNN and other national and local media to provide commentary as a Homicide Expert.

Ritchie currently has more than 50,000 DNA matches with individuals across the country and around the world. He has assisted 10 of those matches, who were adoptees, to identify and locate their birth parents. His family history is published in “The Virginia Kaleidoscope” which is in the African American History Section in the Library of Congress and on the shelf as a source at the DAR Library in DC. Until recently, Ritchie was a member of his family’s board of directors, The Reynolds/Claytor Family Reunion Inc. He formally served as the family liaison for the Claytor Family Scholarship endowment at Washington & Lee University that was established in 1996. The endowment has awarded more than 2.8 million dollars in scholarships to deserving students. He previously served as chairman of the Mary Claytor Family Scholarship that since 2002 has awarded 52 scholarships to graduating high school seniors in the family.

With a high percentage of Cameroonian DNA, Ritchie, in 2016, was accepted as a son of NSO in Cameroon by the NW FONS Council and given the Cameroonian name of Shey during their naming ceremony. His ancestry in part includes the Fulani People of NW Cameroon. In a recent ceremony His Royal Majesty Fon of Kiluun Fondom during 2023 in Cameroon bestowed upon him the Honorary Title of Sheey Ngiri Kiluun and he is officially known as Sheey Bill. This honor along with being elected as the first African American state level president in the 135-year history of the Sons of the American Revolution within the last couple of years are milestones this kid from the hills of Beckley WV never imagined.

As a result of enhanced DNA testing known at Big Y-700, Ritchie has learned that he is now a member of the Noble House of de Burgh, documenting his Irish ancestry to the approximate year of 1030CE (Common Era – AD). The House of Burgh, founded by William de Burgh, was one of the most successful dynastic houses in the history of Ireland and England, producing holders of countless titles, including Queen Consort of Scotland (Elizabeth de Burgh, wife of Robert the Bruce), Queen Consort of Thomond, Regent of England, Chief Justiciar of England, Justiciar of Ireland, Lord of Connaught, Earl of Ulster, Earl of Kent, Earl of Mayo, Earl of Clanricarde, Viceroy of India, Postmaster General, various other domestic titles and international positions, and ancestors of the current British royal family.

Ritchie is currently a Past President of the District of Columbia Society Sons of the American Revolution. He was the first African American state level president in the 133-year history of the Sons of the American Revolution when installed during April 2022. He was inducted into this organization on July 4, 2016, as the result of proving lineage to his 5th great grandfather, William Parks, who was shot, killed and scalped by the Indians working for the British during May 1776. He has since identified and proven his ancestry to 16 additional Revolutionary War Patriots. During 2024 Ritchie became the first African American National Trustee in the history of the SAR. He has proven that he is the 2nd cousin 7x removed of President George Washington and the 1st cousin 6x removed of Zachery Taylor the 12th President of the United States.

On January 8, 2021, Ritchie became a member of the National Society Descendants of American Farmers (“NSDOAF”). He has since proven 80 ancestral farmers/wives and has been appointed a National Advisory of the NSDOAF. He is the author of A Black Man’s Journey to the Sons of the American Revolution published in 2021 100% of the book proceeded have been donated to three 501(c)(3) organizations including his alma mater Howard University. During 2022, Ritchie was appointed by the Prince George's, Maryland County Executive and confirmed by the Prince George's County Council to the Agricultural Resources Advisory Committee. He was reappointed during June of 2024. Ritchie published the Sequel to his book during 2026 with 100% of the proceeds going to Howard.

Between 1998 and 2006, Ritchie served as a member of the Boards of Directors for the National Kidney Foundation NCA and the Greater Washington Urban League. Bill has been married since 1974 to Alfreda Holloway Ritchie, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Howard University and a 1978 graduate of the George Washington University. They have one daughter, Arian Ritchie Joiner, son-in-law Kristopher, and three grandchildren Delante ́, Devin, and Destiny.

Ritchie is an avid golfer and had the pleasure of playing in Tiger Woods Pro-Am at Congressional Country Club on July 4, 2007, where he reportedly had the time of his life!!!!! He has several historical videos on YouTube under the handle of hypnos123, which include law enforcement punditry on homicides, weapons, DNA family reunifications and a combined exposé on the death investigation of Supreme Court Antonin Scalia during 2016.