Richard (Dick) Ferris ’62
The Story
Hotel Ezra Cornell 36 – 1961
Richard Ferris – Maître D’hôtel
The promise to be “the best ever” carried special meaning for HEC 36. This was to be the last year that Dean Meek would be with the school, and the students wanted to dedicate this HEC to him. The theme for the weekend was based on our “American Heritage,” with events and foods representative of the four corners of the nation. The closing eight-course dinner was a tribute to the “Century’s Greatest Hotel Educator,” Howard Bagnall Meek. The Hotelies’ dean of deans would continue to be a familiar presence at many HECs to come and would be remembered forever as the man to whom E.M. Statler promised “any damn thing he wants.”
Hotel Ezra Cornell 37 – 1962
Richard Ferris, Director
The Board of Directors of Hotel Ezra Cornell 37 found unique ways to motivate students. Contests, including ice-carving, won young students some hilarious prizes. One of the funniest stories associated with HEC 37 concerns a young freshman trying to prove himself. His job was to roll out the red carpet for Mrs. Alice Statler as she stepped off her plane at the Ithaca airport.
Mrs. Statler’s plane had just landed, and the stairs were rolled to the door. The student, with the carpet slung over his shoulder, quickened his pace as Mrs. Statler started down the stairs. He had almost reached the spot where he was to start rolling the carpet when he tripped, dropped the carpet, and sent it rolling in the wrong direction. Humiliated, he picked himself up in time to see Mrs. Statler detour to where the carpet had stopped rolling and proceed down the red pathway toward him. “That’s okay, Son,” she said as she patted him on the head, “You’ll get it right next time.”
Excerpts from: The Best Ever: Memories of Hotel Ezra Cornell
Cross Country by Bus to Cornell
Born August 31, 1936, in Sacramento, California, Richard (Dick) J. Ferris’ career was characterized by an ambitious vision and significant leadership in the travel and hospitality industries. His professional journey began after a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, where he was assistant manager at Rocker Four, an NCO club in Tokyo. There, he met Frank Ready ’35, a businessman and alumnus of Cornell. Frank convinced Dick to enroll in the Hotel School at Cornell. Dick left the Army, rode the bus from Stockton, CA to Ithaca, NY, and enrolled at Cornell in 1958.
While at Cornell, Dick worked his way through school and, at the same time, immersed himself in everything the Hotel School had to offer. He became heavily involved with HEC, serving as Maître D’hôtel for HEC 36, and then as managing director for HEC 37. HEC provided invaluable experience for his future career in the hospitality industry.
Managing Director Dick Ferris (center front) with the HEC 37 Board.
A Storied Career
Upon graduating from Cornell, Dick’s academic foundation was immediately put to use when he joined Western International Hotels. He quickly rose within the company, which would later become Westin Hotels & Resorts. His first job was staff planner at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, WA, and soon he was also managing the Olympic Grill. It was there that he met his wife of 59 years, Kelsey Ferris. In 1964, Dick was back on the East Coast as assistant to the manager at the Savoy Plaza in New York. By mid-April of 1965, Dick and Kelsey were in Anchorage, AK. Dick managed the food and beverage operations at the Westin, where he met his longtime friend and future business partner, Peter Ueberroth.
Dick Ferris was the CEO of United Airlines, the owner of Westin Hotels, when I was a young aspiring hotelier with Westin. Dick had come up through Westin Hotels, and I had the good fortune to interact with him occasionally, then and years to follow. I was in awe of his presence and leadership, always having full command of a room or situation. He often seemed “larger than life”, but at the same time, he was always quick to show interest in others. His authentic and direct management style made a lifelong impression on me. Dick’s accomplishments and contributions in hospitality, travel, and the great sport of golf are simply unsurpassed.
~Richard Holtzman ’76, Principal and Vice President of Hospitality
The Athens Group
In 1966, Dick and Kelsey moved from Anchorage to Chicago, where he served as executive assistant manager and then manager of the Continental Plaza Hotel. In November 1968, they moved to Johannesburg, where Dick was overseeing the building of the Carlton Hotel. They returned to Seattle the following year, and in June 1971, made the move to Kansas City, where Dick was building the Crowne Plaza. Six months later, Dick and Kelsey moved back to Chicago for what would be the beginning of his United Airlines career.
Dick’s rise in corporate America was meteoric. After United Airlines’ acquisition of Western International Hotels, he transitioned to the airline side of the business in 1971 as president of United’s Food Services Division and group vice president of marketing in 1974. UAL recognized Dick’s leadership skills and named him president of United Airlines in 1975. By 1976, at the age of 39, he became CEO of United, and in 1978, added the title of chairman of the board.
During his tenure at United Airlines, Dick’s strategic vision would lead to great changes in the airline industry. He became a prominent advocate for airline deregulation, which began in the United States with the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. Dick believed that deregulation would allow a major carrier like United to expand its route network and create a more efficient, customer-focused business model. While most airlines were adamantly opposed, Dick was the industry leader who spearheaded the deregulation of the airlines in the U.S. In addition to helping deregulate the industry, Dick pioneered two additional aspects of airline operations still in existence today. Fortress Hubs, more commonly known as the hub and spoke system, and the Apollo reservation system, which is still in use by travel agencies today.
Dick’s strategic vision for a diversified travel empire led him to transform UAL Corporation into a comprehensive travel and tourism enterprise. A key move in this strategy was the acquisition of Pan American World Airways’ entire Pacific Division in 1985. This acquisition significantly expanded United’s international footprint, particularly in the lucrative Pacific market, which Pan Am pioneered. This placed United into a whole new arena and became the foundation for the acquisition of Pan Am Latin America and Pan Am London Heathrow, establishing United’s extensive international presence.
Dick then spearheaded the creation of Allegis Corporation in 1987. As CEO, chairman, and president of Allegis, he aimed to integrate United Airlines with other travel-related businesses. Now, along with United Airlines, Westin Hotels, and the Apollo reservation system, Dick acquired The Hertz Corporation, as well as Hilton International. His idea was to offer a “one-stop shop” for travelers, providing seamless “door-to-door service” through integrated airline, car rental, and hotel services. Dick believed this synergy would lead to significant savings and attract more customers. Ultimately, Wall Street and investors were skeptical, viewing Allegis’s stock as undervalued and believed the company would be worth more if the components were sold separately.
From Hotels and Airlines to Golf and the PGA Tour
Following his departure from Allegis, Dick continued to make significant contributions to the hospitality and golf industries. In 1991, he partnered with longtime friend and former Major League Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth to acquire a stake in Guest Quarters Suites Hotels, owned by General Electric Investment Corporation.
They got to work quickly, growing the company through acquisitions, gaining Doubletree Hotels in 1993 (adding 56 hotels, doubling the size of the company), taking the company public in 1994, and acquiring RFS Hotels out of Memphis in 1995. 1996 saw their largest acquisition to date, purchasing Red Lion Hotel from KKR. The following year, the company merged with Promus Hotel Corporation. When Hilton Hotels acquired the company in 1999, the number of hotels under the Ferris/Ueberroth leadership grew from 40 hotels with $400M in revenue to 1,400 hotels with over $6B in revenues.
Dick was a mentor, a friend, and the best “golf instructor” I ever knew. A creative, knowledgeable hotelman, never forgetting where he came from, or the people who helped him achieve the success he did.
~Rick Kelleher, business partner, CEO of Doubletree Hotels and
Founder of Pyramid Global Hospitality
Dick was an insightful negotiator and understood how to run a corporate organization. He had an uncanny ability to understand what would make a business successful and how best to organize it. His leadership style was tough, tenacious, challenging, and direct. “In terms of pure business acumen and leadership, there was no one better than Dick Ferris,” said Bill Perocchi, former CEO of Pebble Beach Company and CFO of Guest Quarters, DoubleTree, and Promus Hotels, who worked with Dick for over 30 years.
While Dick’s accomplishments in the hotel and travel industry were remarkable, his contributions to the game of golf, particularly through his work with the PGA TOUR, were equally impressive. A lifelong golfer and follower of the sport, Ferris served as an independent director and chairman of the PGA Tour Champions Policy Board from 1985 to 1992. He then joined the PGA Tour’s Policy Board in 1992 and became its chairman in 1993, a position he held until he stepped down from the Policy Board in 2007.
Dick’s business acumen and steady leadership have been instrumental in growing the reach and impact of the PGA TOUR. He has consistently provided invaluable insight and support to me personally and has been a very effective advocate for the TOUR’s core values and ability to positively impact lives and communities through charitable giving. The PGA TOUR owes Dick Ferris a real debt of gratitude for his service and commitment.
~Tim Finchem, good friend and former Commissioner of the PGA TOUR
Richard Ferris’ retirement party held at the World Golf Hall of Fame on November 12, 2007,
at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. Also photographed is PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.
Photo by: Stan Badz/PGA TOUR
Dick with Arnold Palmer, business partner and winner of 62 PGA Tour titles.
Photo credit: Golf Digest
Pebble Beach
Dick’s career in the travel industry and his passion for golf positioned him perfectly for what would come next – acquiring the Pebble Beach Company and returning Pebble Beach Resorts to American ownership. In 1999, Ferris and Ueberroth and their good friends Arnold Palmer, Clint Eastwood, and Bill Perocchi brought together a group of business leaders and athletes who had a passion for Pebble Beach. Together, they acquired Pebble Beach from Taiheiyo Club and Sumitomo Bank of Japan with a goal to preserve, protect and enhance the property for generations to come. Dick would go on to serve as co-chairman of the board for over 20 years and continued to serve as a director until his passing in 2022. During his tenure, the owners invested over $600M into the property to help fulfill that initial vision. Dick was at the center of many of those capital improvement projects, working diligently with the management team to ensure no detail was missed. He often stated that they viewed themselves as “stewards, not owners, of a national treasure.”
Of his involvement with Pebble Beach, Dick commented, “It’s great. Hotels and golf—all the things I love.”
Ferris stepped down as co-chairman of Pebble Beach in 2020 after being diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Dick with Tim Finchem, Former PGA Tour Commissioner, and then President George H.W. Bush
Connections to Cornell
Ferris is listed among the 90 influential Hotelies profiled in the 90th anniversary issue of Hotelie magazine 2012.
Dick Ferris ’62: CEO of United Airlines, 1983-87, and co-chairman of Doubletree Inns in the mid-1990s, Ferris maintained a strong spirit of entrepreneurship as a co-owner, with Skip Sack ’61, of the Applebee restaurant chain in New England and co-owner, with Peter Ueberroth (his investment partner in Doubletree), of the Pebble Beach Company, operators of four well known golf courses and three hotels. Ferris also teamed up with Arnold Palmer to own an aircraft business. Son Brian Ferris ’90 is president and owner of Chestatee Development Corp., the largest franchisee for Moe’s Southwest Grill. (Note: Brian Ferris divested from Moe’s Southwest Grill in 2023 and has taken his father’s position as co-chairman of Pebble Beach.)
Kelsey & Dick Ferris ’62, Jan Beck & Dean Robert Beck ’42, MEd ’52, PhD ’54,
Eddie & Nell Carlson (Westin), Bill Keithan ’50 (Westin), Muriel & Dick Brown ’49,
Lynn Himmelman ’33 (Westin) at the Continental Plaza in Chicago – 1966.
Lifetime Honors
Peter Ueberroth, Dick Ferris, Clint Eastwood, Bill Perocchi, and Arnold Palmer.
Photo Credit: Golf Digest
As recognition for their many contributions to golf, and particularly their commitment to preserving Pebble Beach, one of America’s national treasures, the World Golf Hall of Fame announced it would honor Dick Ferris and Peter Ueberroth on March 9, 2022, with its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
Upon news of the honor, Ferris said, simply, “Giving back to the game and helping others has brought a lifetime of joy. To be so honored is humbling.”
Dick would receive this honor posthumously as he passed away on January 16, 2022, at the age of 85 after a three-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
While golf was never far from his mind, Dick left an enormous imprint on the hospitality and travel industry during his storied career. He was a legend in the worlds of business and golf, and his impact and vision in both areas will continue to be felt for many years to come. Those close to him recall his infectious personality, love of life, and his love of golf and sailing. His penchant for excellence was evident in all endeavors he undertook, and his determination was inspirational.
In addition to his undergraduate degree from Cornell, Dick also earned a master’s degree from the University of Washington.
Dick and his wife, Kelsey, were married for 59 years. They have three sons, Andrew, Brian, and Mark, and eight grandchildren.
Kelsey and Dick – August 2006
The Ferris family celebrating Dick’s birthday – August 2006.
Tahoe with the grandchildren – 2011.
An Industry Icon Remembered
Written by Tim Finchem
Former PGA Tour Commissioner
January 2022
Back in November 2020, once I learned that Dick Ferris had been diagnosed with ALS, I invited him to come up from his home in Orlando and play golf at TPC Sawgrass. We had a terrific time, although at that stage, while Dick could still play golf, he couldn’t speak and was having trouble swallowing. Yet he played, he played all 18 holes, and he took my money. He got the biggest thrill out of winning that day, not that he didn’t normally beat me. But he got a big kick out of it.
Statement by Bill Perocchi, former Pebble Beach Company CEO and current Co-Chairman who worked with Ferris for 30 years.
All of us at Pebble Beach Company, and throughout the golf world, are heartbroken by the news of Dick’s passing. Dick loved Pebble Beach and Pebble Beach certainly loved Dick. Whenever Dick was on property, there was a buzz in the air – he had a unique ability to connect with our employees. Dick’s eye for details was legendary, whether he was touring our golf courses, inspecting rooms or reviewing the latest rollout of our bell staff uniforms. We have lost a true icon in the hospitality industry. We will miss him dearly.
Peter Ueberroth, former Major League Baseball Commissioner
Business Partner, Pebble Beach
I’m going to miss my close friend Dick, but I am thankful for the over 50 years we were able to spend together. Dick had so many talents, infectious enthusiasm, drive and determination, but on the top of the list, he was a great partner – the Best! What made our partnership so special is that we brought our different perspectives to all major decisions and always agreed on ways to improve Pebble Beach Company for our partners, employees and customers. Dick’s contributions will be felt for years to come, and we have confidence in Brian and Heidi to carry on in partnership for the next generation.
Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner
(statement on PGATour.com)
What I’ve heard from former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and many others about Dick Ferris during his time as chairman was how tenacious he was. When he believed in something, he put his full energy and thoughtfulness behind it, and the tour was certainly the beneficiary of that tenacity. Looking back, the growth and acceleration of our business, thanks to his leadership, is simply staggering. Dick was a great friend and mentor to so many, and we will all miss his passion for how he attacked life.
Ferris at the 2015 Presidents Cup in South Korea.
Photo credit: Chris Condon
